# NTSB WPR09CA051: Beech B60, N6693A, Rock River, WY, November 29, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 29, 2008, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Rock River, WY - Coordinates: 41.710277, -106.021667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7103&lon=-106.0217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 69514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69514/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line due to the lack of forward visibility because of an ice-covered windshield. Contributing to the accident was the flight's encounter with icing weather conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1153605), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=1153605), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Beech B-60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1153605), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020): Environmental issues › Task environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020/cases.md?model=1153605), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=1153605), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Beech B-60, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1153605), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight conducted under instrument flight rules, he encountered clouds that contained clear ice. Ice built up rapidly on the airplane, which was in cruise flight at 16,000 feet. In an effort to get out of the icing conditions, he requested and received clearance to progressively lower altitudes down to 10,000 feet. The airplane continued to accumulate ice. He requested a turn, and this was denied by the controller as there were two other airplanes in the vicinity with similar icing problems. He then requested and received clearance to descend to 9,000 feet, where he could see portions of the ground. At this point, "both windshields were completely covered with clear ice as were the unprotected portions of the aircraft" and both engines were operating at full power. The pilot informed the controller that he needed to descend further. At an altitude of 7,500 feet, he circled several times attempting to see if he could reach an airport for landing. No ice had melted or come off the airplane, and the weather was deteriorating. The pilot decided to land on a highway. On final approach to land, the airplane collided with a power line, which severed the upper half of the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot turned the airplane slightly left, and landed the airplane with the landing gear down in a terraced field next to the highway. During the landing roll, the landing gear was sheared off when the airplane encountered a ditch. The pilot stated that he had "no forward visibility due to the clear ice that completely covered the windshields." ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight conducted under instrument flight rules, he encountered clouds that contained clear ice. Ice built up rapidly on the airplane, which was in cruise flight at 16,000 feet. In an effort to get out of the icing conditions, he requested and received clearance to progressively lower altitudes down to 10,000 feet. The airplane continued to accumulate ice. He requested a turn, and this was denied by the controller as there were two other airplanes in the vicinity with similar icing problems. He then requested and received clearance to descend to 9,000 feet, where he could see portions of the ground. At this point, "both windshields were completely covered with clear ice as were the unprotected portions of the aircraft" and both engines were operating at full power. The pilot informed the controller that he needed to descend further. At an altitude of 7,500 feet, he circled several times attempting to see if he could reach an airport for landing. No ice had melted or come off the airplane, and the weather was deteriorating. The pilot decided to land on a highway. On final approach to land, the airplane collided with a power line, which severed the upper half of the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot turned the airplane slightly left, and landed the airplane with the landing gear down in a terraced field next to the highway. During the landing roll, the landing gear was sheared off when the airplane encountered a ditch. The pilot stated that he had "no forward visibility due to the clear ice that completely covered the windshields." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6693A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6693A-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N P-527, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B60 - Registry model: [Beech B-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b-60) (registry code 1153605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-541 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-541-series) (registry code 41536, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P-527 - Airframe hours: 5151 - Engines: Lycoming TSIO-540 380 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Rice Air LLC - Registered owner: Rice Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2008 - Departed: BFF, Scottsbluff, NE - Destination: SAA, Saratoga, WY - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 25,019 total, 834 in this make and model, 11,179 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: LAR, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081129852629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081129852629A), Nov 29, 2008: Beech B60, Rock River, WY, Substantial damage. Aircraft encountered icing conditions during flight. High surrounding terrain, and not able to climb out of icing pilot decided to land on a highway. Aircraft… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.