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|
Attributes | |
ACN | 1325436 |
Time | |
Date | 201601 |
Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | BUF.Airport |
State Reference | NY |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | IMC |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
Flight Phase | Taxi |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Person 1 | |
Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
Person 2 | |
Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
Events | |
Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown Ground Excursion Taxiway |
Narrative:
After crossing the runway; I was taxiing the aircraft to [FBO]. Heavy blowing snow; low visibility along with the absence of illuminated taxi lights made the taxi very challenging. The taxiways were not plowed and the landscape was completely neutral due to the snow providing an appearance of all surfaces being level and continuous. At what I perceived as the entrance to the FBO. I observed a hashed black and yellow sign to my left with a blue unilluminated taxi light. To my right was a [business jet]. Straight ahead I observed the lineman and could see the FBO lights. As I continued the taxi I felt the nose wheel give and the aircraft stopped. We were traveling at such a low speed that the aircraft rested smoothly and at first I thought it was just deep snow as all surfaces except the runway were covered with roughly 8 inches of loose snow. I then concluded this wasn't the case as we both observed the drop in the aircraft nose attitude. Don't taxi when visibility is low and the combination of unplowed surfaces along with unlit taxiway lights. In these condition I should have requested a follow truck or a snow plow to follow. I would like to see markers placed at that location to avoid a reoccurrence. I was told by airport staff that this wasn't the first time it has happened and they wish that area be paved or marked.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: The flight crew of a business jet reported becoming disoriented while taxiing to the gate in blowing snow and low visibility conditions which resulted in the aircraft departing the paved taxiway surface.
Narrative: After crossing the runway; I was taxiing the aircraft to [FBO]. Heavy blowing snow; low visibility along with the absence of illuminated taxi lights made the taxi very challenging. The taxiways were not plowed and the landscape was completely neutral due to the snow providing an appearance of all surfaces being level and continuous. At what I perceived as the entrance to the FBO. I observed a hashed black and yellow sign to my left with a blue unilluminated taxi light. To my right was a [business jet]. Straight ahead I observed the lineman and could see the FBO lights. As I continued the taxi I felt the nose wheel give and the aircraft stopped. We were traveling at such a low speed that the aircraft rested smoothly and at first I thought it was just deep snow as all surfaces except the runway were covered with roughly 8 inches of loose snow. I then concluded this wasn't the case as we both observed the drop in the aircraft nose attitude. Don't taxi when visibility is low and the combination of unplowed surfaces along with unlit taxiway lights. In these condition I should have requested a follow truck or a snow plow to follow. I would like to see markers placed at that location to avoid a reoccurrence. I was told by airport staff that this wasn't the first time it has happened and they wish that area be paved or marked.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.