Incident Overview
During an instrument approach to runway 24, the pilot flew over the airport and announced on UNICOM that he would circle for runway 24. Witnesses observed the airplane in a left turn; the nose dropped and the airplane entered a left spin. It impacted the roof of a building, fell to the ground floor, and burned.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident investigation did not reveal any failure or malfunction of the engine or airframe.
Weather and Flight Planning
Prior to departure, the pilot received a weather briefing and was advised not to make the flight due to forecast icing conditions. The pilot subsequently flew for over two hours at altitudes where temperatures were below freezing, then descended into an area of known icing conditions and falling snow.
Aircraft Certification
The airplane was not certificated for flight into known icing conditions.