On January 10, 1996, a Piper PA-34-200T (registration N3679M) was involved in an aviation accident near Des Moines, IA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot not using the airplane's deice system which resulted in an accumulation of empennage ice and a tailplane stall. Factors relating to this accident were the pilot's intentional flight into known icing conditions, and the icing conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported the airplane pitched down after lowering flaps on approach. The airplane struck the runway and slid 1,000 feet. Examination revealed heavy impact damage and rime ice on stabilizers.
Incident Description
The pilot reported that upon crossing the runway threshold and selecting 25 degrees of flaps, the airplane pitched down. The pilot immediately released the flaps and added power, but stated that the airplane was basically uncontrollable at that point. Subsequently, the pilot reduced power and lowered the flaps before the airplane struck the runway. The airplane impacted the runway on the centerline and slid approximately 1,000 feet before coming to a stop.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed heavy impact damage to the forward fuselage, engines, and wings.
Icing Observation
Approximately one-half inch of rime ice was observed adhering to the leading edges of the left and right horizontal stabilizers, and along the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer.