NEAR DOVE CREEK, CO, USA
N8675M
BEECH P35
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF CORTEZ CO. THE PLT WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND HAD BEEN ADVISED BEFORE FLT OF HAZARDOUS ICING CONDITIONS ENROUTE. WHEN THE ACFT ICED UP THE PLT REVERSED COURSE AND EVEN THOUGH DESCENDING BELOW MEA HE MANAGED TO STAY CLEAR OF THE TERRAIN UNTIL HE TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD CORTEZ OVER HIGHER TERRAIN. HE WAS OUT OF DIRECT RADIO CONTACT WITH DENVER CENTER BECAUSE OF HIS ALTITUDE. DENVER WAS ABLE TO RELAY THROUGH AN AIRLINER UNTIL ALL CONTACT WAS LOST AT 0927 MST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AND BY ELT HELP THE ACFT WASLOCATED 3 HOURS AFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PLTS HANDBOOK FOR THE BEECH 35 STATED: 'WARNING, FLT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS PROHIBITED'. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED TALL PINE TREES IN A WINGS LEVEL 10-15 DEG NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO FINAL REST IN A DENSELY FORESTED SNOW COVERED AREA BETWEEN 2 LARGE PINE TREES. SHOULDER HARNESSES WERE NOT INSTALLED IN THE ACFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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