What happened
The incident occurred during a night mail flight operating between Kansas City and Chicago. As the aircraft approached Columbia, the pilot encountered unexpected icing conditions. In response to these deteriorating circumstances, the decision was made to execute an emergency landing. However, the airplane subsequently went out of control and impacted the ground in an open field located near a roadway. The pilot, who was the sole occupant on board, was killed in the accident.
Findings
The Accident Board concluded that the primary factor leading to the crash was the sudden onset of icing. These conditions rendered it impossible for the pilot to maintain proper handling of the aircraft, directly contributing to the loss of control and subsequent impact.