Flight and Icing Encounter
Springfield Tower advised the pilot that icing conditions existed along the proposed route of flight. Despite this warning, the pilot elected to take off. Approximately four minutes after departure, the pilot reported encountering rime ice. The flight continued to Joplin, with additional ice accumulation along the route.
Approach and Accident
At Joplin, the pilot conducted an ILS approach to Runway 13, intending to circle and land on Runway 31. Witnesses observed the aircraft pass over the field, heading southeast, positioned on the right side of Runway 13. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed while the pilot was executing the circling approach. Impact occurred in a left wing low, nose low attitude.
A pilot who landed a few minutes before the accident reported that his windshield was three-quarters obscured with mixed ice, and his aircraft's wings had accumulated one-quarter inch of clear ice on the leading edges. He noted that the ice accumulated in six to ten minutes while in the precipitation area.