Beechcraft V35 N108L

Summary

On 6 December 2009 at about 20:15 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N108L, operated by Bladow Harry E, was involved in an accident near Dodge City, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 December 2009 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Dodge City, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Dodge City Regional Airport (DDC)

Coordinates

37.7631, -99.9656

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35

Registration

N108L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bladow Harry E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Dalhart

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10LA068

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pitot heat system in icing conditions resulting in an inoperative airspeed indicator which led to an inadvertant stall while on final approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly into known icing conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the pitot heat system was working during preflight. He obtained a full weather briefing from flight service, and checked the weather via the internet before departing. While airborne at 6,000 feet to 6,500 feet mean sea level he encountered instrument meteorological conditions and turned on the pitot heat. Sometime later, the airplane encountered moderate icing conditions. The airspeed indicator stopped working and the pilot diverted from his route of flight to an alternate airport. While over the runway on landing approach, the airplane stalled and landed hard, substantially damaging the airplane. Ice was found at the impact site, on the airplanes surfaces, and in the pitot tube. Inspection of the pitot tube revealed the pitot heat was not functioning at the pitot tube. On the day of the accident there were two AIRMETs for moderate icing in effect for the pilot’s route of flight and altitude. The pilot could not recall being informed of the icing conditions during his weather briefing and his briefing from flight service could not be located.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.