Event CHI03LA072

Factual narrative

On February 18, 2003, about 1000 eastern standard time, a Beech V35, N9439S, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage when it landed hard, collapsed the left main landing gear, and hit a snowbank during landing on runway 24 at the Paul C. Miller-Sparta Airport (8D4), Sparta, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Pontiac, Michigan, at 0900. The pilot reported he received two preflight briefings and decided to make the flight under visual flight rules (VFR) due to reports of icing conditions in the clouds. The pilot noted he encountered freezing rain between Lansing, Michigan, and 8D4. The pilot stated he received an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance from air traffic control (ATC). The pilot indicated he subsequently climbed above the clouds and was cleared for the VOR approach to runway 24 at 8D4. The pilot reported he did not observe any ice on the wings once above the clouds at 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). The pilot stated he delayed his decent to the final approach fix to avoid further icing of the airplane. The pilot indicated he reached the minimum descent altitude and did not notice any ice on the airplane's wings or windshield. The pilot also stated, "the plane felt like it was flying normally." The pilot noted he added flaps and the airplane began to descend rapidly, the pilot indicated he added power. The pilot reported the airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear collapsed, the airplane turned right, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane subsequently slid into a snowbank. The pilot reported no malfunctions with the airplane or the airplane's engine prior to the accident. The airport manager who witnessed the accident reported the airplane had "1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of ice accumulation on [the] leading edges of the tail surface and wings." The weather reported by the weather observation facility at Muskegon County Airport (MKG), 24 miles to the west of the accident site, were: Time: 0955 Wind: 210 degrees magnetic at 15 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Overcast 1,300 feet above ground level (AGL) Temperature: -1 degrees Celsius Dew Point: -3 degrees Celsius Pressure: 29.98 inches of mercury Time: 1055 Wind: 210 degrees magnetic at 15 knots Visibility: 8 statute miles Sky Condition: Overcast 1,100 feet AGL Temperature: -1 degrees Celsius Dew Point: -3 degrees Celsius Pressure: 29.98 inches of mercury The weather reported by the weather observation facility at Gerald Ford International Airport (GRR), 18 miles to the southeast of the accident site, were: Time: 0956 Wind: 200 degrees magnetic at 8 knots Visibility: 2 statute miles Sky Condition: Overcast 500 feet AGL, freezing drizzle Temperature: -3 degrees Celsius Dew Point: -4 degrees Celsius Pressure: 29.98 inches of mercury Time: 1056 Wind: 220 degrees magnetic at 12 knots Visibility: 2 statute miles Sky Condition: Overcast 500 feet AGL, freezing drizzle Temperature: -3 degrees Celsius Dew Point: -4 degrees Celsius Pressure: 30.00 inches of mercury The winds and temperatures aloft forecast for MKG was: Altitude: 3,000 feet MSL Wind: 250 degrees magnetic at 25 knots Temperature: N/A Altitude: 6,000 feet MSL Wind: 270 degrees at 27 knots Temperature: -5 degrees Celsius Altitude: 9,000 feet MSL Wind: 280 degrees at 33 knots Temperature: -8 degrees Celsius The airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane subsequently impacted a snow bank. The pilot stated he received two preflight weather briefings and decided to make the flight under visual flight rules due to reports of icing conditions in the clouds. He indicated he experienced freezing rain during cruise. The stated that he requested and received an instrument flight rules clearance and climbed above the clouds. He stated that he used a VOR approach for landing and did not experience any icing while on approach. The pilot indicated he lowered the flaps and the aircraft began to descend rapidly, subsequently impacting the runway and collapsing the left main landing gear. A witness reported the aircraft had 1/2 to 3/4 inch of ice on the leading edge of the tail and wings. The weather observation facility 18 miles to the southeast, reported the weather about the time of the accident as: winds 200 degrees magnetic at 8 knots; visibility 2 statute miles with freezing drizzle; sky condition overcast 500 feet above ground level; temperature -3 degrees Celsius; dew point -4 degrees Celsius; pressure 29.98 inches of mercury. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12