SHELL LAKE, WI, USA
N1607W
BEECH A36
AN NDB APPROACH WAS ATTEMPTED TO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT DURING MODERATE SNOW CONDITIONS. VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED RESTRICTED IN SNOW SHOWERS BY AREA RESIDENTS AT THE TIME OF THE APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A LAKE ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED THE POSSIBILITY OF SNOW SHOWERS. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH. WITNESS REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DESCENDED BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOT HAD LIMITED TOTAL INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, A LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPEREINCE AND A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH, HIS DESCENDING BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME, HIS LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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