Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of airframe icing and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The private pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, reported that while enroute on the cross-country flight under visual flight rules (VFR), he altered his course around building clouds. He continued to monitor the weather conditions at local airports along the planned route and was aware that they were near the VFR minimums, but he elected to continue the flight. While approaching a valley, the pilot stated that he saw a break in the clouds, so he attempted to descend to get below the cloud level. Shortly after, the pilot noticed that the weather was changing rapidly and felt that attempting to remain under the clouds would not be “legal nor safe” and he began to climb. During the climb, the airplane entered clouds, and the pilot immediately noticed water droplets forming on the airplane and freezing. The pilot applied carburetor heat and felt an associated decrease in power as he continued with the climb. While attempting to maneuver out of the clouds, the pilot-rated passenger noted that the airspeed was decreasing, and that the ice accumulating on the airframe was increasing. Shortly after, the airplane encountered an aerodynamic stall. The pilot was able to gain enough airspeed to recover, but when the pilot then attempted to climb again, and the airplane stalled for a second time. The airplane eventually entered a spin that the pilot was able to recover from. At this point, the pilot noticed trees and a “cliff” that he was attempting to direct the airplane away from, but the airspeed was decreasing. The pilot then attempted to hold the airplane away from stalling as long as possible to force a landing through trees. The airplane subsequently stalled and collided with a series of trees. The airplane’s wings separated from the fuselage during the impact sequence and the fuselage came to rest on the side of a mountain in about 4 ft of snow. The pilot and both passengers incurred minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged during the impact. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.