MAMMOTH LAKES, CA, USA
N8620N
PIPER PA-32-300
THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING PROP RPM PROBLEMS WHICH DETERIORATED THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE AND HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A ROUGH/UNEVEN FIELD. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE STAGGERED INTO THE AIR IN GROUND EFFECT AND THEN CRASHED. THE WITNESSES ALSO STATED THAT UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS, FUSELAGE, AND EMPENNAGE WERE COVERED WITH ICE THAT APPEARED TO HAVE MELTED AND REFROZEN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD REMOVED ICE BEFORE DEPARTING.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMOVAL OF ICE FROM THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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