Narrative:

Upon contact with the tower controller, while flying the ILS runway 28 to syr, we were informed that there were men and equipment on the runway (runway 28) and a landing clearance was not given. A few mins later, landing clearance was given. Approximately 500 ft AGL, we became visual as we departed the passing snow shower. We were able to visually confirm that the runway of landing was clear of snow removal equipment. We also noticed equipment removing snow on the crossing runway 15/33. I mentioned to the captain that a snow plow was moving rapidly on runway 33, from our left toward our landing runway (runway 28). As we descended, we replied that if we had to go around what the procedure would be. With our plan in place, as we reached 200 ft AGL, the plow proceeded to cross onto our runway. Upon entering our runway, he made a turn that looked as if he realized his mistake, but turned out to be him setting up for his u-turn to go back onto runway 33. As we reached 100 ft AGL, the captain leveled off and started adding power as we watched to see what the plow would do. After his initial turn to the left, he turned back right, proceeding across our runway centerline in his u-turn. At this point we were adding power and performing the go around. We reported to tower 'going around, snow plow on runway.' we made a visual pattern back around and landed without further incident. Tower asked equipment people if they had been on the runway. We did not hear the reply. It pays to keep your eyes open, situational awareness up, and be ready with a plan if things go awry!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DH8 CREW MADE A GAR WHEN A VEHICLE WAS DISCOVERED ON THE RWY.

Narrative: UPON CONTACT WITH THE TWR CTLR, WHILE FLYING THE ILS RWY 28 TO SYR, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WERE MEN AND EQUIP ON THE RWY (RWY 28) AND A LNDG CLRNC WAS NOT GIVEN. A FEW MINS LATER, LNDG CLRNC WAS GIVEN. APPROX 500 FT AGL, WE BECAME VISUAL AS WE DEPARTED THE PASSING SNOW SHOWER. WE WERE ABLE TO VISUALLY CONFIRM THAT THE RWY OF LNDG WAS CLR OF SNOW REMOVAL EQUIP. WE ALSO NOTICED EQUIP REMOVING SNOW ON THE XING RWY 15/33. I MENTIONED TO THE CAPT THAT A SNOW PLOW WAS MOVING RAPIDLY ON RWY 33, FROM OUR L TOWARD OUR LNDG RWY (RWY 28). AS WE DSNDED, WE REPLIED THAT IF WE HAD TO GO AROUND WHAT THE PROC WOULD BE. WITH OUR PLAN IN PLACE, AS WE REACHED 200 FT AGL, THE PLOW PROCEEDED TO CROSS ONTO OUR RWY. UPON ENTERING OUR RWY, HE MADE A TURN THAT LOOKED AS IF HE REALIZED HIS MISTAKE, BUT TURNED OUT TO BE HIM SETTING UP FOR HIS U-TURN TO GO BACK ONTO RWY 33. AS WE REACHED 100 FT AGL, THE CAPT LEVELED OFF AND STARTED ADDING PWR AS WE WATCHED TO SEE WHAT THE PLOW WOULD DO. AFTER HIS INITIAL TURN TO THE L, HE TURNED BACK R, PROCEEDING ACROSS OUR RWY CTRLINE IN HIS U-TURN. AT THIS POINT WE WERE ADDING PWR AND PERFORMING THE GAR. WE RPTED TO TWR 'GOING AROUND, SNOW PLOW ON RWY.' WE MADE A VISUAL PATTERN BACK AROUND AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. TWR ASKED EQUIP PEOPLE IF THEY HAD BEEN ON THE RWY. WE DID NOT HEAR THE REPLY. IT PAYS TO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS UP, AND BE READY WITH A PLAN IF THINGS GO AWRY!

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.