| Crash location | 44.382778°N, 100.286111°W |
| Nearest city | Pierre, SD
44.368316°N, 100.350966°W 3.4 miles away |
| Tail number | N8403F |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 07 Dec 2005 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 310Q |
| Additional details: | None |
On December 7, 2005, about 0850 central standard time, a Cessna 310Q, N8403F, operated by AirMax Airlines and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted a snow bank during landing rollout at Pierre Regional Airport (PIR), Pierre, South Dakota. The air taxi cargo flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 135 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD), Sioux Falls, South Dakota, about 0800.
The pilot stated that he flew the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 31 at PIR. He noted that the landing was "perfect right on centerline." He reported that as he "lowered the nose the aircraft turned abruptly to the left" and became "uncontrollable." He noted that one wheel went off the runway and the airplane subsequently impacted a snow bank causing the nose landing gear to collapse.
The airplane impacted a snow bank at the intersection of runway 31 and taxiway A3. It traveled an additional 25 feet down the runway after the initial impact before coming to rest. The nose landing gear was separated from the airframe and was located at the point of initial impact. The center portion of the runway was dry, however, the outer edges were covered with compacted snow and ice. The taxiway intersection was also covered with compacted snow and ice. The dry portion of the runway did not exhibit any skid marks attributable to the accident airplane.
A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies with the aircraft. The tires did not exhibit any flat spots. The brake assemblies and brake lines were intact. The main landing gear rotated normally and no fluid leaks were observed near the airplane. The nose landing gear separated from the airframe at the snow bank
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll due to the icy runway. Factors were the compacted snow and ice along the edges of the runway and at the taxiway intersection, and the snow banks adjacent to the runway and taxiway.