No fatalities

Pilot Reports Hard Landing After Ice Accumulation and Stall During ILS Approach (N9260P)

Pasco, WA, US

On December 1, 2002, a Piper PA-46-350P (registration N9260P) was involved in an aviation accident near Pasco, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Icing conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing. An inadvertent stall was a factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that after descending, the aircraft accumulated moderate to severe mixed ice, leading to an unexpected stall at about ten feet above the runway, resulting in a hard landing and wing tip contact.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported an incident involving ice accumulation and a stall during an ILS approach. According to the pilot's account, after descending to a lower altitude, the airframe began picking up moderate to severe mixed ice. The pilot cycled the de-icing boots and turned on the windshield heat, then climbed back to a higher altitude, which cleared most of the ice.

Approach and Landing

The pilot was cleared for the ILS approach. The aircraft broke out of the clouds at about 400 feet and 1/4 mile from the runway. When the aircraft was over the runway numbers and approximately ten feet above the runway surface, the aircraft unexpectedly stalled. The pilot added full power, but the right main landing gear touched down hard, and the right wing tip contacted the runway surface.

Post-Landing Findings

The landing was completed, and the pilot taxied the airplane to the hangar. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot noted that most of the airframe was moderately to severely covered with ice, including the leading edges of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers and the propeller spinner.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Dec 2002 Piper PA-46-350P accident near Pasco, WA?

A pilot reported that after descending, the aircraft accumulated moderate to severe mixed ice, leading to an unexpected stall at about ten feet above the runway, resulting in a hard landing and wing tip contact.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Dec 2002 Piper PA-46-350P accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Dec 2002 involved a Piper PA-46-350P, registration N9260P, at Pasco, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Icing conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing. An inadvertent stall was a factor.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030106X00022. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.