N6509T

Substantial
None

BEECH 19S/N: MB-349

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NTSB Number
CEN09CA136
Location
Lafayette, IN
Event ID
20090120X13218
Coordinates
40.403331, -86.939163
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadvertent encounter with icing conditions during initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the lack of visibility during the landing due to an ice covered windscreen, and the structural ice that adversely affected the flight characteristics of the airplane.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N6509T
Make
BEECH
Serial Number
MB-349
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1968
Model / ICAO
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
MCMILLEN BRIAN A
Address
27463 STATE ROAD 23
Status
Deregistered
City
NORTH LIBERTY
State / Zip Code
IN 46554-9169
Country
United States

Analysis

Prior to the night flight, the pilot obtained a "full, low-level weather briefing" and filed an instrument rules flight plan. Shortly after departure, the pilot encountered icing conditions and began to experience a severe vibration in the aircraft flight controls at 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot elected to return to the departure airport. During the instrument approach to land, the airplane continued to accumulate ice on the airframe, and continued toward the terrain in a 1,500 feet per minute descent. At 1,750 feet msl, the airplane "broke out of the clouds with the windscreen completely covered with ice." Subsequently, the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 40 feet short of the runway and skidded to a stop on the runway. Examination of the airplane's systems and powerplant revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's wings and windscreen had approximately 1 inch of ice on the respective surfaces. The pilot reported that icing conditions were not forecast or reported prior to his flight.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA136