BOMBARDIER CL-600-2B19, RAPID CITY, S.D., JAN. 18, 2004–After an ILS approach to 8,701-foot Runway 32 at Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) at about 10:09 p.m., the Canadair Regional Jet’s left wingtip hit the runway while landing. The airplane, operated by Skywest Airlines as Flight 3855, received minor damage. The captain, copilot, flight attendant and 32 passengers were not injured. The Part 121 scheduled passenger flight was flying in IMC on an IFR flight plan; it had originated at Salt Lake City, Utah, at 8:35 p.m.
The tower at RAP was closed at the time of landing, but Flight 3855 was in contact with Ellsworth Air Force Base approach control.
A report stated, “Crew said when they landed they were heavy with ice, and got no flare on landing. Landed pretty hard, captain said, and had contact on runway with left wingtip.”
Inspection of the airplane on the following afternoon revealed half to three-quarters of an inch of rime ice was visible on the tail, windshield wipers and unprotected areas of the airframe.
The RAP weather observation at 10:11 p.m. was recorded as wind 070 degrees at six knots; visibility one-quarter mile with freezing fog; sky condition indefinite 100 feet; temperature -2 degrees C; dew point -2 degrees C; and altimeter 30.13 inches.