Accident Summary
The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following an inadvertent stall on short final. The pilot, who held an instrument rating received seven weeks prior, was conducting an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. The flight initially operated above a broken to overcast cloud layer but later encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and light rime ice approximately midway through the trip.
Pilot Actions and Weather Conditions
The pilot requested a higher altitude to avoid icing, but air traffic control cleared him to a lower altitude due to proximity to the destination. The flight remained in IMC while being vectored for an instrument approach. At the missed approach point, the pilot did not have the airport in sight because of ground snow cover and unfamiliarity with the area, prompting a missed approach.
During radar vectors for a second approach, the pilot obtained visual contact with the airport. After entering visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, he canceled the IFR flight plan and entered a traffic pattern for runway 36. On short final, the airplane drifted left of the centerline. The pilot applied a little power to realign, but the aircraft began rolling left. He then applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. The engine responded, but the airplane rolled inverted and subsequently made contact with the ground.
Icing and Pilot Experience
In a follow-up interview, the pilot stated that the aircraft had accumulated rime ice along the leading edges of the wings. An AIRMET for occasional moderate rime or mixed icing below 10,000 feet mean sea level was in effect. A certified re-recording of the weather briefing indicated the pilot was informed of the AIRMET and a pilot report of light rime ice along the route. The pilot reported 2.5 hours of actual instrument flight time and minimal experience with in-flight icing conditions.
Performance Effects
Federal Aviation Administration publications note that ice formation on flight surfaces may adversely affect performance and control. With ice accretion, an aerodynamic stall may occur with little or none of the usual cues before or at the stall.