ALLENTOWN, PA, USA
N31UV
Cessna 310R
The pilot operated the airplane's deicing boots after ice accumulated on the wings. The right wing's outboard, 3-foot section, did not clear. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport, and completed an ILS approach. He reduced power early in the flare, and the airplane made a hard landing. Personnel on the ground observed about 4 inches of ice on the outboard leading edge of the right wing.
On January 8, 1999, at 1720 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 310R, N31UV, was substantially damaged during landing at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Canadian-certificated commercial pilot and five passengers were uninjured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight between Bangor International Airport (BGR), Bangor, Maine, and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he was in icing conditions, and that he operated the deicing boots after ice accumulated on the wings. The right wing's outboard, 3-foot section, did not clear. The pilot decided to divert to Lehigh Valley, and completed the ILS RWY 13 approach. Then, "at point of flare, [I] reduced power too much at 15 feet over runway, and aircraft landed hard. Taxied to [the] FBO and discovered...[the] damage." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, after the airplane landed, ground personnel observed about 4 inches of ice on the outboard leading edge of the right wing.
The pilot's improper decision to reduce too much power during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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