Flight Details
The pilot and his wife departed Mount Vernon, Ohio, en route to Colorado Springs, Colorado. They stopped at McCook, Nebraska for fuel and an updated weather briefing. At McCook, the pilot was informed that marginal VFR conditions existed at the destination but were forecast to clear by his estimated time of arrival. He departed McCook without filing a flight plan.
Weather and Ice Encounter
En route, the pilot reported encountering "ice in clear skies" and subsequently landed at Akron, Colorado. After a 1.5-hour wait, he departed Akron at 1740 mountain standard time with 27.2 gallons of fuel on board. Near Colorado Springs, he encountered instrument meteorological conditions and airframe ice, prompting him to declare an emergency.
Approach and Landing
Approach control vectored the pilot for an ILS runway 35 approach. The first approach was missed due to ice accumulating on the windshield, but on the second approach, the pilot was able to see the runway. As he flew over the runway and began to flare, he reduced power. The aircraft, burdened by the extra weight and loss of lift from ice accumulation, dropped and landed hard.
Pilot Qualifications
The pilot was not instrument rated at the time of the flight, but he had taken the written instrument knowledge test and was prepared for the flight test. The weather at 1920 mountain standard time was reported as 200-foot overcast ceiling, 1/4 statute mile visibility in fog, and wind from 150 degrees at 6 knots. The minimum runway visual range for the approach was 2400 feet.