2. If I can't go over them, do they produce airframe ice?
Earlsy one April, I picked up so much clear ice so fast, near
Williamsport, PA, that with full throttle, my Cherokee was down to 85
knots and barely holding altitude.
Fortunately I had an "out." The ceiling was around 2000 agl and I was
able to shoot an approach to Williamsport.
Even if there's no icing, the snow itself can kill you.
Some years ago, a guy took off from somewhere north of here, in New
York or New England. He was heading to an airport south of here, in
Kentucky or Virginia.
His route took him over Phillipsburg VOR, in the center of PA. Here,
it was snowing hard. He was having engine problems as he neared
Phillipsburg, and called the FSS there (it's since been closed, but
then it was on the field at Midstate Airport, a few miles from the
VOR.)
He shot an approach, but had to miss. He then asked where he could
find VMC, and was told to try going to Williamsport.
He got as far as Lock haven, when his engine conked out. Snow had
filled his air intake and choked his engine.
He and his three passengers died.
vince norris
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