What happened
On November 6, 2014, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR22, registration N811CD, crashed into a farm field near Grover Hill, Ohio, leading to a post-impact fire. The flight originated from Washington Municipal Airport in Iowa, destined for Findlay Airport in Ohio. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and two passengers; all three individuals sustained 3 fatal injuries.
During the flight, the pilot communicated with air traffic controllers, reporting at approximately 1729 EST that the aircraft was "picking up a little ice" and requested a climb to 10,000 feet MSL. After climbing above the clouds, the flight began a descent toward the destination approximately 20 minutes later. At approximately 1757, the last transponder reply indicated the aircraft was at 3,60 and located near Grover Hill. Witnesses near the site reported seeing a descending light, similar to a comet, followed by an explosion.
The investigation
An analysis of radar data showed that during the descent, the aircraft's bank angle exceeded 60 degrees, and it descended at a rate of approximately 9,000 feet per minute. The investigation found that the atmosphere was conducive to the formation of supercooled large droplet (SLD) icing.
The aircraft was equipped with a Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). Investigators found the CAPS rocket motor had been expended, but the parachute remained in its packed state. It could not be determined if the rocket was deployed prior to impact or due to the force of the impact itself.
Examination of the wreckage revealed the engine and propeller were buried deep in the field, and the airframe showed evidence of thermal damage from a post-impact fire. The aircraft was not certified for flight in icing conditions.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered supercooled large droplet (SLD) icing, which likely caused rapid ice accumulation on the airframe.
- The accumulation of ice resulted in a loss of lift and an uncontrolled descent into the terrain.
- The pilot made the decision to fly in known icing conditions in an aircraft that was not certified for such operations.