Small aircraft in 'whiteout' conditions lands short of runway injuring pilot and damaging aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	234235
Time
Date	199302
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sve
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 4294 flight time type : 2894
ASRS Report	234235
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On final approach to runway 29, susanville municipal airport, unable to judge ht above ground due to solid field of snow. Also, a sudden whiteout occurred 1/4 mi from end of runway. Light snow did not restrict visibility. Remained clear of clouds. Visibility in vicinity of airport variable 3-5 mi. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the runway used has a 4 percent upslope. The gear was down when he landed and the aircraft was badly damaged. The snow was 20 inches deep. He bumped head, received minor cuts and a hairline spinal fracture. FAA and NTSB investigated and told him he would probably not hear any more about the incident. He is not sure if it was classified as an incident. The visibility was more than 3 mi, a witness testifies it was 5 mi. Reporter is not instrument rated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IN 'WHITEOUT' CONDITIONS LANDS SHORT OF RWY INJURING PLT AND DAMAGING ACFT.

Narrative: ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 29, SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL ARPT, UNABLE TO JUDGE HT ABOVE GND DUE TO SOLID FIELD OF SNOW. ALSO, A SUDDEN WHITEOUT OCCURRED 1/4 MI FROM END OF RWY. LIGHT SNOW DID NOT RESTRICT VISIBILITY. REMAINED CLR OF CLOUDS. VISIBILITY IN VICINITY OF ARPT VARIABLE 3-5 MI. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RWY USED HAS A 4 PERCENT UPSLOPE. THE GEAR WAS DOWN WHEN HE LANDED AND THE ACFT WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THE SNOW WAS 20 INCHES DEEP. HE BUMPED HEAD, RECEIVED MINOR CUTS AND A HAIRLINE SPINAL FRACTURE. FAA AND NTSB INVESTIGATED AND TOLD HIM HE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HEAR ANY MORE ABOUT THE INCIDENT. HE IS NOT SURE IF IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENT. THE VISIBILITY WAS MORE THAN 3 MI, A WITNESS TESTIFIES IT WAS 5 MI. RPTR IS NOT INST RATED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.