Narrative:

After cleared into position and hold we waited roughly 30 seconds and then cleared for takeoff. At the 'power set' call from the copilot I confirmed visually a quick glance into the cockpit and then back down the runway at which time copilot stated 'airspeed alive.' just after this call and just before the 80 KT call; I saw a red light materialize from behind the windscreen vertical support at my 10:30 position. I noted that it was the brake lights of a snow plow stopping on the side of the runway and he was going in the same direction as me; at this time; simultaneously (the copilot called 80 KTS already); I was calling; 'my yoke' and the tower was on the radio asking if we saw the plow. Because of the contaminated runway (I could not hold plane straight while applying power and maintaining brake pressure) and my speed and acceleration; and that the plow was already moving from the 10:30 to the 10 o'clock position and had stopped. I elected to continue the takeoff. I believe an abort at the position would have been more hazardous. I passed the plow with distance to spare roughly 4-5 seconds after initially seeing it. In retrospect because of the low ceiling and visibility I should have concentrated more visually on the side of the runway and not just down the runway; I do not know if I would have seen the plow or not; but I do know my focus was 'straight ahead.' I do believe that in this situation it was better to continue the takeoff then to attempt an abort.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DA50 Falcon narrowly missed a snow plow which the Local Controller advised about after the takeoff roll was begun.

Narrative: After cleared into position and hold we waited roughly 30 seconds and then cleared for takeoff. At the 'power set' call from the copilot I confirmed visually a quick glance into the cockpit and then back down the runway at which time copilot stated 'airspeed alive.' Just after this call and just before the 80 KT call; I saw a red light materialize from behind the windscreen vertical support at my 10:30 position. I noted that it was the brake lights of a snow plow stopping on the side of the runway and he was going in the same direction as me; At this time; simultaneously (the copilot called 80 KTS already); I was calling; 'my yoke' and the Tower was on the radio asking if we saw the plow. Because of the contaminated runway (I could not hold plane straight while applying power and maintaining brake pressure) and my speed and acceleration; and that the plow was already moving from the 10:30 to the 10 o'clock position and had stopped. I elected to continue the takeoff. I believe an abort at the position would have been more hazardous. I passed the plow with distance to spare roughly 4-5 seconds after initially seeing it. In retrospect because of the low ceiling and visibility I should have concentrated more visually on the side of the runway and not just down the runway; I do not know if I would have seen the plow or not; but I do know my focus was 'straight ahead.' I do believe that in this situation it was better to continue the takeoff then to attempt an abort.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.