At about 21:57 EST, a Cessna 210J encountered icing at 10,000 feet. He requested a descent to 4,000 feet and activated the alcohol anti-ice system. The weather at Gaylord was 800 overcast, 4 miles visibility, light freezing drizzle, and wind 200 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots. The pilot said the ILS approach was normal but during the flare he realized that only the approach lights were on and that the runway lights were off. He said he had no visual reference to the runway. The airport manager said there are two receivers that work on the same frequency to activate airport lighting. One receiver the Federal Aviation Administration maintains for the approach lights. The other receiver is for runway and taxiway lights and is maintained by the airport. The receivers are not interconnected. The approach lights receiver is located close to the approach end of the Runway 9 and receives a stronger signal than the other receiver from aircraft that are on the approach. Since the accident, the airport manager has issued a local notice to airman to indicate that runway lights will not activate beyond 4 miles from the airport.
Feb. 5, Naples, Fla. / Cessna 210J Centurion
At about 21:57 EST, a Cessna 210J encountered icing at 10,000 feet. He requested a descent to 4,000 feet and activated the alcohol anti-ice system. The weather at Gaylord was 800 overcast, 4 miles visibility, light freezing drizzle, and wind 200 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots. The pilot said the ILS approach was normal but during the flare he realized that only the approach lights were on and that the runway lights were off. He said he had no visual reference to the runway. The airport manager said there are two receivers that work on the same frequency to activate airport lighting. One receiver the Federal Aviation Administration maintains for the approach lights. The other rece...
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot on an ILS approach encountered icing conditions and, during the flare, discovered only approach lights were active, leading to a loss of visual reference to the runway.
- The problem stemmed from the airport's dual, non-interconnected lighting activation system, where the receiver for runway lights has a weaker signal and did not activate from the aircraft's position.
- The airport manager has since issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) indicating that runway lights will not activate if an aircraft is beyond 4 miles from the airport.
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