N9684X

On December 5, 1993, at 1957 central standard time, a Cessna 210B, N9684X, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of runway 31 at Dubuque Municipal Airport, Dubuque, Iowa. The pilot received serious injuries, and his sole passenger received minor injuries. An IFR flight plan was filed, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

A weather observation from Dubuque Municipal Airport was taken three minutes after the time of the accident. The observation reported a measured ceiling of 200 overcast, two miles visibility with fog, temperature 37 degrees, and dewpoint 37 degrees. According to the FAA, approximately five and a half hours before departure, the pilot received a full weather briefing and was given an Airmet for icing conditions in the area. Thirty minutes before takeoff, the pilot received an update on the weather conditions. At this time the pilot was given four Pireps for moderate to severe icing conditions which existed in the area of his destination.

In a written statement provided to the NTSB, the pilot says he was experiencing heavy icing conditions and eventually advised air traffic control that he was unable to maintain altitude. Air traffic control then cleared the pilot for the ILS approach at Dubuque Municipal Airport. At approximately 3,300 feet, the pilot reported the airplane had two inches of ice accumulation. At 800 feet AGL, he lowered the landing gear and was unable to maintain the glideslope. The airplane landed short of the runway.