Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's disregard of hazardous weather advisory, resulting in flt into forecast icing conditions in an acft not equipped or certified for the flt, and the improper inflt planning by pilot during the VFR approach that resulted in impact with terrain short of the runway. A factor relating to the accident was the pilot diverted his attention to scraping ice from the windshield during the VFR approach for landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot obtained a wx briefing, filed a flt plan and took off on an IFR x country flt into an area of forecast moderate icing conditions in an acft not equipped or certified for the flt. When he encountered acft icing during the flt, he requested radar vectors to the nearest airport, and was cleared for an instrument approach for landing. After flying the approach, the pilot circled in VMC while scraping ice from the windshield for visby to land. The acft descended below the level of the aprt, located on a bluff, and was unable to climb to reach the runway for landing. The acft impacted on the side of the bluff 1/2 mile from the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
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