Flight Details
A flight departed Lower Mud Lake, Louisiana, at approximately 1635, transporting ten men from a private duck hunting camp to Shreveport, Louisiana. The aircraft carried the pilot, copilot, and ten passengers. Another company airplane transported the remaining four hunters and baggage from Lake Charles Airport. At takeoff, weather over the route was overcast with cloud bases at 800 to 900 feet and tops sloping from about 2,500 feet at Lower Mud Lake to 7,000 feet at Shreveport. The gross weight was approximately the prescribed maximum of 12,750 pounds, and the center of gravity was within prescribed limits. The pilot was W. C. Huddleston and the copilot L. R. Schexnaydre.
Progress of Flight
The aircraft first reported at 1704 to the CAA Alexandria radio station, stating it was on top of clouds over DeRidder, Louisiana, about 76 miles from departure. The pilot requested and received Shreveport weather: measured ceiling 600 feet, variable, overcast; visibility 2 miles; drizzle, fog; temperature 36°F; dew point 34°F; wind west-northwest 17; altimeter 30.02; ceiling variable 400 to 800 feet. Alexandria radio advised of possible freezing drizzle in the Shreveport area. The pilot acknowledged and indicated he would fly on top to Elmgrove, a fan marker about 16 miles southeast of Shreveport, then file an instrument let-down. He reported cloud tops at 4,500 to 5,000 feet.
At 1719, the flight reported to Shreveport Approach Control as being 30 miles southwest of Natchitoches, at altitude 5,500 feet, 500 on top, inbound to Shreveport, and requested an Instrument Flight Rules clearance for approach. A clearance for 500 feet on top to the Shreveport Instrument Landing System outer marker was issued, with an estimate of 1750 for the outer marker. At approximately 1729, Approach Control coordinated with Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control for a descent to 2,000 feet. The pilot reported altitude at 6,000 feet, more than 500 on top. Clearance was given to descend to 2,000 feet, maintaining to Forbing, Louisiana, a range intersection about 10 miles southwest of the airport. The flight was advised of reported icing at 4,000 feet and above and given the 1704 Shreveport weather: 300 feet scattered, measured 600 variable, overcast, 2 miles visibility, light snow and fog. The flight left 6,000 feet at 1730 and 5,000 feet at 1732, reporting temperatures of 40°F and 32°F, respectively.
Accident Sequence
At 1745, the flight advised it was at 2,000 feet and had picked up a "load" of ice. It was cleared to 1,500 feet, the minimum safe altitude, at which time the pilot said he was on the back course of the localiser. The flight was requested to report when passing the localiser. The pilot requested ground temperature, given as 34°F. At 1747, the flight reported being at 1,200 feet, which was all it "could hold." It was cleared for an approach and asked for an arrival estimate at the outer marker. At 1749, the last radio contact, the flight reported being contact below the clouds with Wallace Lake in sight and "going in." No emergency was declared.
Several persons near the crash site heard the engines and saw the aircraft just below the overcast at approximately 400 to 500 feet above the ground. It descended steeply, banking sharply from side to side several times with loud but normal engine noise. It passed from view beyond trees; almost immediately a crash was heard and a glare seen.
Investigation
The official investigation determined that the aircraft did not have wing or windshield deicing equipment. The US Weather Bureau area forecast for the time and place of the accident included occasional severe icing. The pilot did not obtain sufficient weather information to conduct this flight safely. The aircraft quickly acquired so much ice that it could no longer maintain altitude.