On March 5, 1982, a Piper PA-30 (registration N34EE) operated by Eagle Aircraft Company was involved in an aviation accident near Valparaiso, IN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot encountered severe icing after canceling IFR flight plan and attempted to continue approach. Ice accumulation led to inability to maintain altitude, resulting in a short landing and a subsequent gear-up landing on a taxiway.
Incident Overview
The pilot reported encountering severe icing conditions after he had canceled his IFR flight plan and had the airport in sight. At that point, he felt that the safest alternative was to continue the approach. The approach was flown at 120 miles per hour with no flaps.
Sequence of Events
As the approach continued, ice began to accumulate rapidly. With full power, the pilot was unable to stop the descent. The aircraft touched down 78 feet short of the runway and bounced back into the air. The pilot then retracted the landing gear in an attempt to keep the aircraft flying.
Landing and Outcome
The windshield was covered with ice, but the pilot was able to see a parallel taxiway by looking through the side window. The aircraft was maneuvered to the taxiway and landed at a high descent rate with the gear up.