Flight and Weather Briefing
A pilot received a weather briefing and filed an IFR flight plan to Casa De Aero Airport in Hampshire, Illinois. Before departure, an Air Traffic Control Specialist inquired if the pilot was aware of AIRMETs for turbulence and IFR conditions along the route. The pilot responded, "Yeah, turbulence, icing and IFR, it's lovely."
En Route Communications
During the flight, the pilot contacted the Kankakee, Illinois, Flight Service Station to request weather conditions at DuPage County Airport in West Chicago, Illinois. The specialist reported DuPage's conditions as 400 feet agl overcast, 5 miles visibility, and mist, with temperature and dew point both at 1 degree Celsius. The pilot then asked about Madison, Wisconsin, and learned of a broken ceiling at 800 feet agl, 1.5 miles visibility, light freezing drizzle, and a temperature of minus 1 degree Celsius.
Final Contact
The pilot subsequently checked in with Chicago TRACON, reporting level at 4,000 feet msl. At 1838, the controller cleared the pilot for the VOR alpha approach into Casa De Aero Airport and authorized a frequency change, adding, "be sure you get to me to cancel [the IFR flight plan] please. I'm protecting the airspace." At 1848, the aircraft dropped below radar coverage and was not heard from again. The controller suspected the airplane had landed.
Recovery Effort
At 2200, a satellite mission control center began receiving the aircraft's ELT signal. At 0230 cst, a CAP ground team narrowed the signal's location to a field behind a rural residence. Weather conditions prevented the team from entering the field until daybreak. The airplane was located at 0813 cst.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed areas of rime ice approximately 1/4 inch thick adhering to the leading edges of the left and right horizontal stabilators, the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, and along a 30-inch section of the leading edge of the right wing at mid-span. No other anomalies with the airplane were identified.