Office of Aviation Safety
Airport and Survival Issues
Bombardier CRJ-200 Pinnacle Airlines Traverse City, Michigan April 12, 2007
Traverse City Airport (TVC)
• Part 139 certificated airport • Snow and ice control plan – Runway contamination removal – Runway surface condition reporting
Snow Removal Activities
• Before accident flight arrived – Runway plowed full length and width – Field condition report issued • Increasing snowfall
• 10 minutes later - braking action “nil”
Airport Condition Report Options
• TVC operations website (real time)
• Notice to airmen
• Direct communications with pilots on
common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF)
Airfield Communications
• 12:25 a.m. – Initial contact with TVC operations
personnel • 12:27 a.m. – Report of “thin wet snow over patchy thin ice” received • First runway contamination indication • 12:38 a.m. – Braking action “nil” report • Not heard by pilots • 12:41 a.m. – Braking action “probably nil” report • Captain requested confirmation • TVC airport operations did not confirm
FAA Advisory Material
• Advisory Circular – Triggers for snow removal: snow depth – No triggers based on friction assessments • SAFO 06012 – Operations in “nil” conditions unsafe • No FAA restrictions on airports
regarding friction
Accident Detection and Location
• Aircraft rescue and firefighting crew
unsure of accident location • Forward-looking infrared device did not help • Little Rock, Arkansas accident
– Recommendation to evaluate crash
detection and location systems – Classified “Open – Unacceptable Response”