Incident Overview
On January 6, 2009, at 1729 eastern standard time, a Beech A36TC, registration N92WT, made a hard forced landing on the frozen surface of a river approximately one mile south of the Three Rivers Municipal Airport (HAI) in Three Rivers, Michigan. The commercial-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.
Flight History
The trip originated in Brownsville, Texas, with a planned stop at Branson National Airport (SGF) in Springfield, Missouri, where the pilot refueled the airplane and received a flight service station (FSS) weather briefing. The pilot stated he did not recall any reports of icing during that briefing. The last leg of the flight departed SGF at 1402 central standard time.
During the en route portion from SGF to HAI, the pilot flew at 9,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) and reported that cloud tops were at 6,500 msl. He was in contact with South Bend approach control when nearing HAI. The only pilot report regarding icing was from an airplane over Lake Michigan.
Approach and Forced Landing
The pilot was cleared for the GPS 27 approach. He reported that the airplane picked up light rime ice during the descent through the clouds, breaking out of clouds around 1,700 msl (900 feet above ground level). The pitot heat and defrosters were on, but he was unable to see out of the forward windscreen and had to look out the side window during the landing. As he neared the airport, he attempted to add engine power but could maintain only 17 inches of manifold pressure. He maintained as much airspeed as possible until the airplane contacted the frozen river. The airplane normally stalls at 62 knots, but it stalled at 82 knots during the landing.
Post-Accident Inspection
Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration South Bend, Indiana, Flight Standards District Office examined the airplane and found the following:
- Both wings had 1/16 to 1/8 inch of rime ice on the lower surface from the leading edge trailing aft about 12 inches.
- Ice was also visible on portions of the leading edge of both wings, but some was broken off due to impact.
- The windscreen was iced over.
- The horizontal stabilizer was covered with about 3/16 inch of rime ice.
- The vertical stabilizer was covered with 1/8 to 3/16 inch of mixed ice.
- The alternate air door was in the closed position and appeared operable.
- The air inlet was crushed and impacted with snow during the landing.
- All three propeller blades were twisted and bent rearward.
- The nose and left main landing gears collapsed; the right main gear was pushed up into the wing.
- The rear spars on both wings were bent, and the flaps were buckled.
Weather Briefings
Prior to departing Brownsville, Texas, at 0614 central standard time, the pilot received a Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUAT) weather briefing. The forecast for northern Indiana included an outlook for IFR conditions due to ceilings and freezing drizzle and snow mist. The briefing included terminal forecasts for South Bend Regional Airport (SBN) and Battle Creek International Airport (AZO). The SBN forecast for 2100 called for light freezing drizzle and snow. The 1300 and 2000 forecasts for AZO called for light snow. The briefing also included AIRMETs for icing between Brownsville and SGF.
While at SGF, the pilot contacted an FSS to file a flight plan and obtain updated weather. He reported that there was a little rime ice coming into SGF and asked about ceiling and icing conditions in the Kalamazoo area. The briefer gave an abbreviated briefing, noting that a weak low-pressure system was pushing into the area. Pilot reports were provided for icing in clouds near Jefferson, Missouri, and Springfield, Illinois, as well as light to moderate rime icing in clouds at 6,000 feet near Goshen, Indiana. The briefer stated that the heavier band of snow had moved through the Three Rivers area but isolated snow showers remained, and the potential for icing still existed.