Incident Overview
A pilot flying an airplane encountered moderate rime icing at an altitude of 13,000 feet mean sea level (msl). After assessing the weather conditions, the pilot decided to divert to an intermediate airport. Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) cleared the pilot for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported breaking out of the weather and experiencing difficulty identifying the airport. The ARTCC controller informed the pilot that the airport was at 11 o'clock and 12 miles away. The pilot then stated that he had "let his altitude slip" and was coming around a big peak, adding that he was "going to go around that."
Less than one minute after this communication, radio and radar contact with the airplane was lost. The last known position of the airplane was 14.49 nautical miles from the airport on a bearing of 097 degrees, at an altitude of 8,000 feet msl. ARTCC issued an Alert Notification and initiated search and rescue efforts. The airplane was located approximately 7 hours later.
Wreckage and Examination
The airplane had struck the terrain in a 40-degree nose-low attitude and was destroyed by a post-impact explosion and fire. An examination of the airframe and systems revealed no mechanical anomalies.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the routine aviation weather report (METAR) at the airport indicated overcast skies at 3,900 feet, visibility of 10 miles, temperature 41°F, dew point 25°F, winds from 250° at 22 knots gusting to 26 knots, and an altimeter setting of 30.09 inches of mercury.