Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 8000; Flight Crew Type 100
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Airport
Returning from a cross country trip at night to ZZZ. Originally departed ZZZ in daylight. Prior to departure a training aircraft had a landing mishap resulting in a collapsed gear. The accident airplane was off the side of the runway approximately 1;500 feet from the threshold end of runway 23. The airplane was in the overrun area and clear of the runway. Many aircraft were landing and departing after the incident. We checked NOTAMs prior to our 50 minute return flight to ZZZ. When approaching ZZZ and calling our position in the traffic area we were informed by an aircraft making practice approaches that the ZZZ airport manager had the runway lights turned off and the airport was closed by NOTAM. I called approach and requested a NOTAM check for ZZZ. Approach contacted flight service and no NOTAMs where reported for ZZZ. I confirmed twice before proceeding. I flew a low approach down the runway to confirm the runway was clear. The landing incident aircraft was still sitting off the runway in the overrun safety zone. I flew another pattern and landed uneventfully and beyond the incident aircraft regardless of the runway lights being turned off by the ZZZ manager. After shutdown the airport manager blocked my aircraft and started yelling at me that the airport was closed by NOTAM. I advised him that there were no NOTAMs for ZZZ in the system. He continued to yell and state there was a NOTAM and I acted in a careless manner and could have killed someone. (No one was there other he and a line boy) I checked online again and called Flight Service after the manager left and it was confirmed a fourth time that there were no NOTAMs issued or in the system for ZZZ. I advised Flight Service that the airport manager had shut down the runway light system and was advising pilots that the airport was closed by NOTAM. The flight service specialist was very surprised and advised me that he would contact his supervisor and have him call the ZZZ manager. I went online and at the time a NOTAM was published for the runway closure at ZZZ.
C206 pilot reported being informed by another pilot after landing that the airport was closed and the lights were deactivated due to an aircraft incident earlier in the day.