What happened
While conducting an instrument approach in the vicinity of Denver, the pilot was notified of active icing conditions during weather briefings. During the descent, the pilot communicated via radio that the aircraft was experiencing ice accumulation and requested assistance to descend. Following instructions for a close turn toward the outer marker, the aircraft was observed overflying the airport at approximately 500 feet above ground level.
After acknowledging missed approach procedures, the pilot reported significant ice buildup and indicated that the aircraft was approaching a stall. The flight ended in an in-flight collision with terrain during the missed approach phase.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to both environmental conditions and pilot performance. The aircraft encountered severe weather, specifically snow, low ceilings, and icing conditions. A critical mechanical factor was the accumulation of ice on the wings.
Regarding the crew, findings indicated that the pilot intentionally flew into known adverse weather. The investigation noted a lack of recent instrument proficiency, as the pilot had only performed three instrument approaches in the previous six months. Additionally, the pilot's decision-making was impacted by underconfidence in personal ability and an improper execution of IFR procedures, specifically failing to reach the required decision height. Other contributing factors included operating during dark night conditions and a center of gravity configuration that was 6 inches aft of the permitted limit.