Flight History
The pilot obtained a weather briefing and was advised of known icing conditions along the intended route. Despite this, the pilot filed an IFR flight plan and departed at 1733. The pilot was instrument rated but had logged only 3.75 hours of IFR flight time, all actual, in the previous six months.
Icing Encounter
At 1744, the pilot reported picking up rime ice and requested a lower altitude. Air traffic control (ATC) was unable to descend the aircraft due to minimum vectoring altitude constraints and instructed the pilot to climb to 10,000 feet. At 1745, the pilot advised that there was too much ice and the aircraft could not climb. ATC then cleared the aircraft to 9,000 feet.
At 1748, the pilot stated that the static system was being lost. ATC cleared the aircraft direct to the Kiowa VORTAC and towards lower terrain. At 1752, the pilot reported that the aircraft could not maintain altitude and was losing airspeed. ATC cleared the aircraft to 8,500 feet.
Final Moments
Radar contact with the aircraft was lost at 1753. The aircraft crashed at 1756.
Post-Crash Evidence
Television videotapes taken three hours after the crash showed at least one inch of rime ice on the leading edges of the wings, stabilizers, and struts. The aircraft was not certified for flight into known icing conditions.