The pilot reported encountering freezing rain. The pilot requested and received a descent to a lower altitude to stay below the clouds. The airplanes airspeed continued to decrease and the pilot informed ATC that he wanted to divert to a nearby airport. The pilot made two low passes over the airport while trying to clear ice off the windshield; however, the windshields alcohol de-ice system could not keep up with the ice accumulation. The pilot had to look out of the side window during the landing and was unable to accurately judge his height in blowing snow against the light-colored concrete runway. A hard landing resulted; the right wing strut was bent and the wing was pushed into the fuselage.
January 3, 2009, Brainerd, Minn., Beech Model 58 Baron
The pilot reported encountering freezing rain. The pilot requested and received a descent to a lower altitude to stay below the clouds. The airplanes airspeed continued to decrease and the pilot informed ATC that he wanted to divert to a nearby airport. The pilot made two low passes over the airport while trying to clear ice off the windshield; however, the windshields alcohol de-ice system could not keep up with the ice accumulation.
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot encountered freezing rain, leading to severe ice accumulation that overwhelmed the aircraft's windshield de-ice system.
- Critically impaired visibility forced the pilot to look out the side window during a diversion and landing attempt.
- Difficulty judging height due to limited visibility, blowing snow, and runway conditions resulted in a hard landing and structural damage to the aircraft.
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