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October 5, 2012 · Piper PA-24-250 · N6661P

Colorado Springs, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 5, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N6661P
Operator
Six One Papa
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13CA005

An air traffic controller provided the pilot with an altitude at which to cruise, but the airplane began accumulating structural icing. The pilot requested a lower altitude, but the altitude was still in clouds and the airplane continued to accumulate ice; the controller was unable to provide an even lower altitude to the pilot due to the minimum vectoring altitude. The pilot then visually acquired the airport, at which point the airplane had accumulated 1 1/2 to 2 inches of structural icing. The pilot kept the airplane's speed up during the pattern; however, on short final he reduced power and the airplane stalled about 105 mph. The airplane impacted terrain short of the runway and sustained substantial left and right wing damage. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot indicated that he should have obtained the weather conditions at his destination in flight, because they had worsened, or he should have sought an ice-free solution, which may have been behind his flight path.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during the landing with known structural icing, which resulted in the airplane’s stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to divert to an area where conditions were not conducive to icing.

Full Narrative

The pilot was given an altitude to fly by an air traffic controller where the pilot saw that the airplane collected one and one-half to two inches of structural ice. The pilot requested a lower altitude and the controller was unable to accommodate the pilot due to the minimum vectoring altitude. The pilot kept the airplane's speed up during the pattern. However, on short final he reduced power and the airplane stalled about 105 mph. The airplane impacted terrain short of the runway and sustained substantial left and right wing damage. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. The pilot's safety recommendation indicated that he should have sought an ice free solution which would have been behind his ultimate flight path.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:44 MDT
Nearest AirportMeadow Lake Airport (0nm)
Runway15
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN6661P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSix One Papa
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1C5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 30 C
Altimeter30.19 inHg
Observation Time20:32
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data