There’s Never a Good Time to Freeze Up When Flying

Dealing with unexpected icing conditions requires quick action.

Bill Little

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Key Takeaways:

The pilot disregarded an inoperative pitot heat for a winter ski trip, rationalizing it unnecessary for the planned conditions.
During the return flight, unexpected severe weather and icing led to an airspeed indicator failure and heavy aircraft vibrations, prompting an emergency.
The pilot skillfully managed the crisis, effectively communicating with ATC and making a safe, albeit eventful, radar-assisted landing at a diversion airport.
A post-flight conversation with another pilot, who also diverted due to unmanageable icing despite having de-icing equipment, underscored the extreme hazard the pilot had unknowingly faced without a functioning pitot heat.

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A guy I had flown on enough trips to turn him into a pretty good copilot called early one week in January to see if I could get a plane for the weekend.

I was flying out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) at the time. He wanted to bring a friend and pick up another friend at Dulles International Airport (KIAD), then we’d head to Somerset, Pennsylvania, to go skiing in the mountains beginning Friday night if we could get away in time.