Preliminary Report: Metro hits snowbank

FAIRCHILD SWEARINGEN METRO IIIA, RAWLINS, WYO., NOV. 1, 2003–At approximately 6 a.m. (MST) Fairchild Swearingen Metro IIA N787KL was substantially damaged when it hit a snowbank while landing at Rawlins Municipal Airport (RWL), Rawlins, Wyo. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The cargo flight was being operated under FAR Part 135 by Key Lime Air Englewood, Colo. and was listed in the FAA registry under EDB Air, Inc of Wilsonville, Ore. The cross-country cargo flight had originated from Centennial Airport, Denver (APA), Colo., approximately one hour earlier, and the aircraft was operating on an IFR flight plan in IFR conditions.

An FAA inspector said that the airplane touched down approximately 1,700 feet down the 7,000-by-100-ft runway and slid sideways for approximately 1,900 feet (all the right-side tires were flat). The airplane left the runway and hit a snowbank along the side of the runway, and its nose section was wrinkled and bent.