NYC02FA051

The airplane collided with mountainous terrain during approach to the destination airport. While approaching the airport, the pilot requested vectors for a localizer approach to runway 19. Due to traffic, air traffic control (ATC) issued the pilot a holding clearance. The airplane was approaching the holding fix about 8,000 feet, when the pilot advised ATC that the airplane was picking up a little ice. ATC initially offered an amended clearance of 9,000 feet, but the pilot declined. Subsequently, he accepted the clearance and climbed back to 9,000 feet. ATC then told the pilot that after one more airplane had landed, he would be issued an approach clearance. The airplane was about 9,200 feet when the pilot replied "thank you." Review of radar data revealed that the accident airplane made one complete 360-degree turn, and one 270-degree turn on the non-holding side of the published holding pattern. During the two turns, the airplane descended to approximately 8,400 feet, climbed to 8,900 feet, then descended again to 8,300 feet. The two turns were tighter than the expected standard 2-minute turns in a holding pattern, with radii ranging from 0.3 to 0.4 nautical miles and 0.1 to 0.2 nautical miles respectively. Following the two holding turns, no more radio transmissions or radar returns were received by ATC. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Another pilot flying in the area reported moderate rime ice at 8,000 feet, but added that he climbed out of the ice and was between cloud layers at 9,000 to 10,000 feet.

History of flight

On January 25, 2002, about 1710 eastern standard time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N104CS, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in Chittenden, Vermont. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Johnstown-Cambria County Airport (JST), Johnstown, Pennsylvania; destined for Rutland State Airport (RUT), Rutland, Vermont. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

Review of air traffic control (ATC) data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed:

At 1646:09, the pilot was at 11,000 feet msl, and requested vectors for the Localizer Runway 19 approach to RUT. ATC advised the pilot that he was "number two" for the approach.

At 1654:32, ATC advised the pilot that he was "number three" for the approach, and queried the pilot to copy holding instructions.

At 1654:47, ATC instructed the pilot to hold at the GITEW intersection as published, expect a further clearance at [1720], and asked what altitude he'd like to hold at. The pilot asked for 8,000 or 9,000 feet, and was cleared to 8,000 feet.

At 1656:47, ATC advised the pilot to amend the clearance and hold at 9,000; the pilot complied.

At 1703:51, the pilot was subsequently cleared to 8,000 feet.

At 1705:23, the pilot advised the he was picking up "a little bit of ice." ATC asked if the pilot would like to return to 9,000 feet, but the pilot replied, "negative, I might as well start keeping working my way down."

At 1705:34, ATC advised that the pilot would be at 8,000 feet for a while; the pilot subsequently requested 9,000 feet and ATC issued the clearance and advised of icing at 7,000 and 8,000 feet.

At 1707:13, ATC advised the pilot that once the airplane ahead of him landed, he would then be issued and approach clearance. At that time, according to the radar data, the airplane had flown approximately 1/2 of the first holding circuit, and was about 9,200 feet.

At 1707:19, the pilot said "thank you," and no more transmissions were received from N104CS. The airplane then completed the first circuit, but had descended to approximately 8,400 feet.

About 1708, it flew a second, tighter circuit, and climbed back to 8,900 feet; but then descended to 8,300 feet at 1708:29. The last radar return was at 17:09:02, near the vicinity of the accident site, with no altitude return.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for single engine land, multi engine land, and instrument airplane.

His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first class medical certificate was issued on March 27, 2001. On the application for the medical certificate, the pilot reported 900 hours of total flight time.

The pilot's logbook was not recovered. According to one of his instructors, the pilot had accumulated approximately 1,000 hours of total flight experience; of which, about 250 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Aircraft information

The aircraft logbooks were not recovered. However, the maintenance facility that performed the last annual inspection provided a copy of their work order. According to the work order, the most recent annual inspection was performed on January 17, 2002. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 1,780.5 hours of total flight time.

Meteorological information

The pilot telephoned the Altoona, Pennsylvania Flight Service Station (FSS), about 1200 EST on January 25, 2002. The pilot advised that he was planning a flight from JST to RUT, at an altitude of 11,000 feet, departing about 1430.

The FSS specialist provided the pilot a standard weather briefing for his planned route of flight, which included an IFR advisory, AIRMET Sierra, for mountains being obscured by clouds, precipitation, and mist; valid for New England until 2200 EST.

The briefing also included AIRMET Zulu for Icing: light occasional moderate rime/mixed icing in clouds and precipitation below 14,000 feet, with the freezing level from the surface to 4,000 feet, valid for New England until 2200 EST.

Additionally, the FSS specialist noted that the temperature was -6 degrees C at the departure airport, and -13 degrees C at the destination airport, and told the pilot to "keep that in mind."

The FSS specialist concluded the standard briefing and the pilot filed an IFR flight plan.

The pilot telephoned the Altoona FSS again, about 1435 EST, and requested an update on RUT weather. The FSS specialist provided the pilot an abbreviated briefing, which included the AIRMET for icing, "as you get up towards Rutland."

About the time of the accident, several aircraft were flying in the vicinity of RUT. A pilot, of another airplane that was flying at 8,000 feet msl over central Vermont, stated that his airplane was picking up moderate rime ice. Specifically, the ice was accumulating on the leading edges of the airplane at 1/2-inch in 10 minutes. The pilot added that he requested a higher altitude, and was out of the ice and between cloud layers at 9,000 to 10,000 feet.

Another pilot, who was descending toward RUT, stated that he observed light to mixed ice from 15,000 feet to 11,000 feet; and from 9,000 feet to 7,000 feet.

The reported weather at RUT, at 1715, was: wind from 240 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 19 knots; visibility 10 miles; broken ceiling at 3,000 feet, overcast ceiling at 3,900 feet; temperature 34 degrees F, dew point 25 degrees F; altimeter 29.95 inches Hg.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was located on January 27, 2002, on the west face of Round Mountain, at an elevation of approximately 2,700 feet msl. The wreckage was examined on January 28, and all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. No debris path was observed, and the wreckage was confined to a single area, oriented on a 150-degree magnetic heading. Additionally, tree branches directly above the wreckage sustained damage, but there was no damage observed to any other trees.

The cabin and cockpit area were consumed by fire. Due to the damage, flight control continuity could not be verified. The vertical and right horizontal stabilizers were located in the cabin area; both were crushed and charred. Due to the damage, trim settings could not be verified. A crushed and partially separated portion of the left horizontal stabilizer was found aft of the wreckage. The left and right main landing gear were located near the retracted position. The nose gear was separated, and located aft of the wreckage. The left and right wings were charred, and exhibited crushing damage. Both flaps were in the retracted position.

The investigative team was unable to access the engines. One propeller blade was recovered from the right engine, and exhibited "s"-bending. Additionally, branches with fresh 45-degree cuts were found near the right engine. One propeller blade was recovered from the left engine. It exhibited chordwise scratching and leading edge gouging.

After the wreckage was recovered, the engines were further examined. The top spark plugs were removed from the left engine for examination. They were light gray in color, and the electrodes were absent of debris. The bottom spark plugs were destroyed. The left magneto was rotated via an electric drill, and produced spark at all towers. The right magneto was destroyed. When the crankshaft was rotated by hand, piston movement was noted in all cylinders. Due to several damaged push rods, thumb compression could not be attained on all cylinders. Rocker arm movement was noted at valves: number one intake, number two exhaust, number three intake and exhaust, number four intake and exhaust, and number six intake. Lifter movement was felt at valves: number one exhaust, number two intake, number five