On February 13, 1991, a Beech F33A (registration N66841) operated by Mac W. Huss was involved in an aviation accident near Ogden, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft due to severe icing conditions that caused engine roughness, resulting in a ditching in the Great Salt Lake. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft encountered severe rime ice shortly after takeoff, causing engine roughness. Unable to return to the airport, the pilot was forced to ditch the plane in the Great Salt Lake.
What happened
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing toward cruise altitude, the pilot reported that the airplane began accumulating rime ice. Concurrently, the engine started running rough. The flight crew attempted to return to the departure airport but was unable to make it back. Consequently, the aircraft was ditched in the Great Salt Lake. The airplane was not recovered from the water.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this incident were the severe rime ice accumulation and the resulting engine roughness. These conditions prevented the pilot from maintaining controlled flight or returning to the airfield, leading to the forced ditching in the Great Salt Lake.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft due to severe icing conditions that caused engine roughness, resulting in a ditching in the Great Salt Lake.
