ERA25LA111

The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing package over 3 hours before departure on his first of two planned flight legs. The briefing indicated that freezing rain was forecast later that afternoon. He believed he would have more than enough time to make the first flight, perform his function at the destination airport, and fly the return leg while avoiding the freezing rain. Less than an hour after his briefing, and before departure on the first uneventful flight leg, the Aviation Weather Center issued graphical products specifying that freezing rain was forecast along the planned route and during the time of the planned returned leg. Before departing for the return (accident) flight leg, the pilot reviewed hourly surface observations at nearby airports along with weather radar returns on his tablet computer. After departing for the visual flight rules flight, he noted adverse weather and deviated to the east while “staying low.” He then encountered an area of freezing rain and turned on the airplane’s (weeping wing) ice protection system, flew through the area of freezing rain, turned further east, and continued the flight. The airplane again encountered freezing rain resulting in more ice accretion. Recognizing the need to land, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport and although the windshield defroster was functioning and “full heat and 3rd stage of [the] fan [were] on,” the freezing rain overcame the defroster’s ability and the windshield became obscured with ice, which reduced his forward visibility. The pilot flew over the alternate airport and entered a normal airport traffic pattern for landing. He was initially able to view the runway out of the airplane’s side window, but he lost sight of the runway when he turned onto final approach. The airplane subsequently touched down in a field about 385 ft short of the runway threshold. The pilot was seriously injured and airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its systems. He further stated that if he had known the flight was going to be in icing conditions he would not have departed.