Incident Summary
According to the pilot's report, during an IFR flight, the aircraft accumulated approximately two inches of rime ice on the leading edges of the wings. This ice buildup resulted in a loss of about 15 knots of airspeed.
Approach and Collision
The pilot established the aircraft on the localizer for the approach. When the aircraft was 1.9 miles from the airport and at an altitude of 500 feet above ground level (AGL), the pilot reduced the airspeed to 100 knots and lowered the landing gear. Subsequently, the aircraft collided with trees and then the terrain, approximately 800 feet short of the runway.
Ice Accumulation
The reported rime ice accumulation on the wing leading edges is consistent with the airspeed loss observed by the pilot. No other environmental conditions were specified in the report.