What happened
On November 17, 2018, a Beech 95-B55, registration N4817M, was performing a personal flight from Montrose Regional Airport in Colorado to Dodge City Regional Airport in Kansas. While en route, the aircraft encountered moderate rime ice.
At approximately 1637 CST, the pilot reported to air traffic control that the aircraft was picking up a fair amount of moderate rime ice. Following instructions from the controller, the pilot descended to 5,100 feet. The pilot later requested a climb to 8,000 feet to attempt to dissipate the ice, but reported that the airplane was unable to climb. The pilot subsequently descended to 3,500 feet to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) and diverted toward Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport.
During the approach, the pilot reported that the aircraft was established on the localizer but stated, "I can't see out of the windshield, I have to get up closer." Shortly after, the aircraft impacted a power line and a field approximately 3 miles south of the airport, resulting in 2 fatal injuries.