20010207009979A

(.19)On February 7, 2001, at 2030 central standard time, a Beech 65-B80, N107BA, operated by bemidji aviation services, as bemidji flight 25, collided with power lines and the terrain while circling to land at the Foss airport, Sioux Falls, south dakota. The airline transport rated pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR part 135 flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions and was on an IFR flight plan. The flight originated from alexandria, Minnesota, at 1925 central standard time. The pilot was cleared for the VOR approach to runway 15 and was circling to land on runway 03. Information from the air traffic control tower at the Foss airport indicated that the pilot was left of course while circling. The tower tried to contact the pilot to no avail. Local authorities reported the airplane contacted power lines and crashed 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. (-23) on February 7, 2001, at 2030 central daylight time (CDT), bemidji 25, a Beechcraft BE-65-B80, N107BA, operated by bemidji aviation services, inc. (bema), and an airline transport pilot rated pilot in command, was destro yed by the post crash fire. The accident occurred in the vicinity of the Sioux Falls/Joe Foss Field (fsd), Sioux Falls, SD. The commercially operated, 14 CFR part 35, flight was IFR from alexandria, MN (axn) to fsd, airplane had nine hundred ninety-five (995) pounds of cargo onboard. The pilot obtained a weather briefing from the princeton afss. He was concerned with the weather conditions for the area and expressed his feelings to the briefer about having to make this trip. He filed the IFR flight plan for fsd as his destination with minneapolis international (msp) the alternate, with a proposed departure time of 0100Z (CDT+6), 6,000 feet MSL, and 1 hours plus 10 minutes estimated time enroute. At approximately 40 miles north of fsd, the flight encountered rain at 6,000 ft MSL. The pilot reported that the rain was freezing on contact, outside air temperature of -10C. Upon leaving minneapolis center and beginning the approach phase, bemidji 25 contacted Sioux Falls approach control. On initial contact, bemidji 25 was given a clearance to depart 6,000 ft MSL at pilot's discretion to and maintain 5,000, turn to a heading of 200 for vectors for a ILS runway 03 final approach course. Dakota 630, a metroliner, SA-227 type airplane was 5 miles west of the final approach fix and cleared for an ILS rwy 03 approach. The approach controller asked dakota 630 if he had picked up any ice on his way down. Dakota 630 responded "down to 3600 light to moderate clear, prior to 4,000, negative ice". An aero commander type airplane that departed the fsd airport approximately 10 minutes earlier was handed over to mpz ARTCC. No mention nor report of ice was made. Bemidji 25 then inquired if he was #1 and stated that he was getting a lot of ice and asked about an ILS to runway 21 and circle. The controller offered a VOR 15 where bemidji 25 was 12 miles from the VOR, about to intercept its final approach course, and cleared him for that approach. The weather was 800 ft AGL overcast and the visibility was 2 1/2 miles and the wind was 060 at 10 knots. The controller advised bemidji 25 that the metroliner preceding him to the airport and about 10 minutes ahead, picked-up ice at 4,000. Bemidji 25 responded by stating "got plenty on here now." The approach controller then had bemidji 25 contact fsd tower. During the final approach, the pilot reported that he had to increase power to maintain approach airspeed. The airplane descended below the cloud layer prior to reaching the threshold of rwy 15. The pilot did not commence the right turn to cirlce for rwy 03 for fear of stalling in the turn. The pilot elected to continue flying the runway heading and planned for shallow right turns to rwy 03. Airplane buffeting was exerienced during the base leg to rwy 03 requiring the pilot to shallow his turn to final, resulting in over-flying the final approach course. The pilot reported that he had applied full power to the engines which was insufficient to maintain the necessary altitude and airspeed to reach the runway. The airplane crashed in an area used by the state highway maintenance department, overturning, and destroyed by the impact and ensuing fire. The pilot extricated himself from the airplane, and he was taken to the hospital where his injuries required extensive surgery to his ankle. The airplane following bemidji 25 to the airport made subsequent requests to the controller for lower altitudes to get down out of the ice or icing layer.