Plane crashes on Alton Bay ice, no injuries reported

ALTON BAY — A small aircraft crash-landed at the Alton Bay Seaplane Base on Sunday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Neither the pilot nor one passenger were injured, but the Beechcraft A36 sustained substantial damage. 

The plane landed short of the runway and struck a snowbank at the ice runway around 9 a.m. Sunday, shearing off its landing gear. The FAA is investigating the crash. 

The Beechcraft A36 is a fixed wing single-engine aircraft with a reciprocating engine manufactured in 1982, according to FAA registry data. It’s owned by New Hampshire Flying Association, Inc. 

Sunday marked the second such crash at the ice runway this season. 

A Highlander aircraft went off the runway on Wednesday, Feb. 12 while landing at the Alton Bay Seaplane Base around 9:25 a.m. 

The two individuals on board were not injured, according to an FAA report. 

Reports from the scene indicated the individuals were not transported by EMS and Alton Fire Department Chief James Reinert confirmed that later Wednesday afternoon. 

The rough landing did cause damage to the plane’s propeller and landing gear. 

The Highlander, manufactured by Just Aircraft Co., is a fixed-wing single engine aircraft owned by Glenn Mercer of Hampton, according to aircraft registration information.

Two crashes aside, operations at the ice runway appear to have gone well this year. 

On a social media page affiliated with the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway, organizers announced Saturday was their busiest to-date, facilitating 88 landings on the narrow strip of ice in Alton Bay.

Those 88 landings brought the season total up to 730, far surpassing a previous record of 643 set in 2019. 

“Yesterday we did see several instances of aircraft with differential brake steering that could not steer on the ice and have to be walked by ground crew,” organizers wrote online, in part. “As the air temperatures increased the surface of the ice becomes wet and that reduces traction to zero, something to consider if you plan to fly in.”

The ice runway was closed Monday, according to a voicemail recording which provides information regarding their operations. The memo noted operations would likely be closed for at least a few days this week.

“We will be evaluating the ice conditions as the week progresses,” the recording said.  

Airport Manager Jason Leavitt was not immediately available.