Narrative:

After getting deiced, we were on our way to dbq. At approximately 15 mins away from dbq airport, we learned that their tower was closed for the evening, and advised by ZAU that possible snow plowing was in progress. As we received radar vectors for the ILS, we called dbq for a 'traffic check.' there was no traffic, except for snow plows on the runway. We tried unsuccessfully to communicate with the snow plows. Then, we realized we had tuned to an inappropriate frequency for CTAF. After tuning to the dbq CTAF, we learned the snow plows were actively cleaning the active runway while we were on a 2 mi instrument approach. I immediately initiated a missed approach and we were vectored around for another ILS. After guaranteeing the snow plows were clear of the runway, we landed and taxied to our gate without incident. I believe that a lengthy schedule after minimal rest, created a potentially disastrous situation. The combination of poor WX, requiring precise aeronautical and navigation skills, coupled with 14+ hours of duty, overshadowed our ability to communicate properly.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE TWR WAS CLOSED AT DBQ, AND AN ACR FLC EXECUTED A MISSED APCH UPON LEARNING THAT A SNOW PLOW WAS ON THE RWY.

Narrative: AFTER GETTING DEICED, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO DBQ. AT APPROX 15 MINS AWAY FROM DBQ ARPT, WE LEARNED THAT THEIR TWR WAS CLOSED FOR THE EVENING, AND ADVISED BY ZAU THAT POSSIBLE SNOW PLOWING WAS IN PROGRESS. AS WE RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS FOR THE ILS, WE CALLED DBQ FOR A 'TFC CHK.' THERE WAS NO TFC, EXCEPT FOR SNOW PLOWS ON THE RWY. WE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SNOW PLOWS. THEN, WE REALIZED WE HAD TUNED TO AN INAPPROPRIATE FREQ FOR CTAF. AFTER TUNING TO THE DBQ CTAF, WE LEARNED THE SNOW PLOWS WERE ACTIVELY CLEANING THE ACTIVE RWY WHILE WE WERE ON A 2 MI INST APCH. I IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A MISSED APCH AND WE WERE VECTORED AROUND FOR ANOTHER ILS. AFTER GUARANTEEING THE SNOW PLOWS WERE CLR OF THE RWY, WE LANDED AND TAXIED TO OUR GATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT A LENGTHY SCHEDULE AFTER MINIMAL REST, CREATED A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS SIT. THE COMBINATION OF POOR WX, REQUIRING PRECISE AERO AND NAV SKILLS, COUPLED WITH 14+ HRS OF DUTY, OVERSHADOWED OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.