What happened
During the flight toward its destination, the pilot encountered accumulating ice. In response to these conditions, the pilot contacted air traffic control to request a descent, which was subsequently granted. The flight was cleared to perform a VOR-A approach into Greensburg Airport.
As the aircraft approached the airfield, an observer located north of the airport noted the plane traveling along runway 18 at an altitude of approximately seven feet. Following this period, the aircraft was seen climbing and moving toward the south. Witnesses in the area reported that the aircraft was operating under an overcast ceiling ranging from 300 to 1,000 feet AGL.
A witness positioned roughly two miles south of the airport observed the aircraft execute a sharp left turn. The aircraft was seen dropping its nose low, attempting a recovery, and then dropping the nose again before disappearing behind a treeline. Following the incident, search and rescue teams located the wreckage and identified significant amounts of ice debris scattered along the flight path and near the perimeter of the crash site.
Findings
- The pilot reported encountering ice accretion during the flight.
- Investigators found substantial ice debris distributed along the flight path and at the site of the accident.