CHI94LA104

The pilot received a weather briefing before the flight during which a possible chance of a little bit of icing at 6000 feet was mentioned. During the flight at altitudes of 4,000 feet and below, the aircraft picked up heavy icing. The pilot was unable to locate the airport during the VOR approach so he made a turn back toward the airport in an attempt to gain visual contact. The pilot reported that due to the amount of ice on the airplane, he was unable to maintain altitude with full power. An off airport landing was made during which the airplane contacted trees.

On March 13, 1994, at 1845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 32RT-300, N83JF, operated by Dennis G. Wolgin collided with trees during a missed approach at the Harbor Springs Airport, Harbor Springs, Michigan, while on a CFR 14 Part 91 flight. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Pontiac, Michigan, on March 13, 1994, at 1710 est.

The pilot reported he departed Pontiac in visual meteorological conditions which gradually decreased to IMC during the flight. He continued to state that after being in IMC conditions for awhile, a "very slight appearance of light ice" was visible on the leading edges of the wings. The pilot contacted Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) stating he was getting a "touch of build-up." He inquired about PIREPs and asked if a descent to 4,000' mean sea level (msl) would be a better. The controller queried another aircraft regarding en route conditions. The controller then responded that another aircraft at 4,500' msl was out of icing. The pilot of N83JF responded that he was descending to 4,500' msl. The controller informed N83JF to maintain 4,000' msl.

Approximately 23 minutes later, the pilot of N83JF once again stated to the controller that he was picking up ice and requested a lower altitude. The controller cleared N83JF to descend to 3,000' msl. The pilot then reported that the conditions at 3,000' msl were not much better. Shortly thereafter the pilot was issued a heading to the initial approach fix for Harbor Springs and was cleared to descend to 2,900' msl. The pilot was then cleared for the approach and advised to cancel his IFR flight plan.

The pilot stated that while on the approach the "aircraft began to experience sudden, much heavier icing." The pilot stated he descended to the minimum descent altitude and could not make visual contact with the ground. He stated the airplane was becoming hard to control and he had to keep increasing power to maintain airspeed. The pilot stated he then made a turn back toward the airport in an attempt to make visual contact. He stated the airplane's performance gradually decreased to the point that he could not maintain altitude with full power. He stated he broke out of the clouds and during touchdown the airplane collided with trees.

The pilot received a preflight weather briefing from the Lansing, Michigan, Flight Service Station prior to departure. There were no flight precautions for icing issued. The briefer did state, "...southerly flow through the state it's a pretty strong flow and could bring some scattered areas of rain showers...ah...I think it's just mostly rain showers cause it's warm enough but...ah...you won't see any snow until you get pretty far north it is snowing at Pellston right now... ." When issuing the winds aloft for 6,000' msl the briefer stated, "...at Traverse City...the temperatures are negative there they're minus three minus four so if your in the clouds at that level you could see a little bit of icing I've seen virtually no icing reports today... ."