13 Feb 20145:03 reconstruction2K views

Severe Flight: Icing, Instrument Failure & No Way Out

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Icing, Instrument Failure and a Forced Landing in Wisconsin

On February 13, 2014, a Beechcraft Baron approaching Menominee, Wisconsin, encountered icing while descending toward the airport. The aircraft was being handled by Green Bay-area controllers, including NATCA member Justin Krenke. As the weather and aircraft problems developed together, the controllers had to keep the pilot above or clear of the icing while finding an airport that could actually be reached.

The Icing Appears

Krenke had warned the pilot about known icing and allowed the descent toward 3,000 feet at the pilot’s discretion. The aircraft encountered icing during the descent. Because of the minimum vectoring altitude in the area, the controller could not simply continue lowering the aircraft. A straight-in approach was offered, but the pilot chose to continue toward the original approach instead.

Then the Instruments Became a Problem

The situation became more difficult when the pilot reported a gyro failure and requested to climb above the icing. Controllers coordinated with Minneapolis Center and Milwaukee TRACON while Krenke climbed the aircraft through several altitudes in an attempt to escape the icing. Meanwhile, controller Adam Helm searched weather reports for airports with better conditions. None of the nearby options offered an easy escape.

A Possible Airport Emerges

As the pilot continued toward the Green Bay area, the controllers recognized that maintaining heading and altitude was becoming increasingly difficult. The pilot declared an emergency about 20 miles from Green Bay. The controllers began preparing for a possible emergency ASR approach and identified Oconto Airport as an alternate.

Oconto Was Not Immediately Usable

Krenke vectored the aircraft over Oconto while Helm coordinated with the local police dispatcher. The pilot reported that snowplows were occupying the runway. The dispatcher was told that the runway needed to be cleared. On the next pass, radar and communications with the aircraft were lost. The dispatcher subsequently relayed that the aircraft had crash-landed.

Survival After the Loss of Control

The pilot and passengers survived the crash landing. The flight had become increasingly difficult as icing and an instrument malfunction affected the aircraft, while controllers searched for an airport with better weather and helped arrange an approach to Oconto. The aircraft ultimately crash-landed after radar and communications were lost.

Accident Facts

Date
February 13, 2014
Aircraft
Beechcraft Baron
Event
Icing, Instrument Failure and a Forced Landing in Wisconsin
Category
Incident / Emergency
Timeline
February 13, 2014 —
The Beechcraft Baron was inbound toward Menominee with known icing in the area.
1.
Descent —
The aircraft encountered icing and the pilot requested help.
2.
Shortly afterward —
The pilot reported a gyro problem and requested a climb above the icing.
3.
During the response —
Controllers coordinated with Minneapolis Center and searched for better weather.
4.
About 20 miles from Green Bay —
The pilot declared an emergency as control became increasingly difficult.
5.
Final phase —
Oconto Airport was selected as an alternative and controllers coordinated for the runway to be cleared.
6.
Shortly afterward —
Radar and communications were lost; the aircraft crash-landed and the occupants survived.
7.

Sources

Audio from the original air traffic control recording, sourced from public recordings and released investigation records. The reconstruction, animation and written account are our own.
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