NAPLES, NY, USA
N3667W
PIPER PA-32-260
THE PILOT MADE A DEPARTURE AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 9000 FT. DURING THE LAST PORTION OF THE CLIMB, THE RATE OF CLIMB DECREASED. AFTER REACHING 8000 FT, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A DESCENT TO 4100 FT, THEN IT CLIMBED TO 5100 FT. THE AIRPLANE THEN ENTERED ANOTHER DESCENT, LEVELED OFF AT 3800 FT AND DISPPEARED FROM RADAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH POWER SETTING BEFORE IMPACT. NO PREIMPCT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. ICING CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT AND THE PILOT HAD COMMENTED ABOUT ENCOUNTERING ICE ON HIS PREVIOUS FLIGHT (TO ROCHESTER). THERE WERE REPORTS OF MODERATE RIME ICING FROM AN MD-80 AND A BEECH 99.
FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN STRUCTURAL (WING) ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE WEATHER CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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