Here are 150 photos taken by members of the Northeast Pilot's Group.
http://www.meetup.com/NEPilotsGroup/photos/827044/
Special thanks to Paul, Bruce, and the other volunteers who make this ice runway an exciting destination for pilots. We love coming to Alton Bay, not just because it is the only FAA designated ice runway in the United States, but also because Paul and everyone in town makes us feel so welcome. Our group alone filled 25 seats at Shibley's for brunch.
As for the previous photo, indeed, there was a minor mishap. The crosswind (west wind) made for challenging conditions, particularly on ice. It has the potential for blowing us across the runway (in this case towards the east), so we tend to land to the left (west) of the centerline of the runway to give us some room, should we slip to the east. The left main wheel caught the snowbank on the left (west) edge of the runway, which caused it to spin to the left. When the main wheel hit the snowbank, it collapsed, which caused the propeller to hit the ice, hence the bent propeller. Nobody was hurt. The force of this prop-strike is transmitted through the drive shaft to the connecting rods, which are probably bent. The FAA demands a mandatory engine teardown and rebuild in a situation like this.
Overall, the Alton Bay ice runway is operated in a very safe and professional manner. The pilots that fly here tend to be very experienced, so this is an unusual occurrence that had more to do with the wind conditions than anything else.
- Joel Glickman