Doug wrote:

In the Rocky Mountains, if there is IMC, there is almost always ice.
Also, the MEA's are frequently in the oxygen required levels. It really
isn't IFR territory for GA aircraft. Stay VFR is the rule here. The Fed
Ex Caravan crashed due to ice on approach into Steamboat, and he was
turbine and de-iced.

Based on my understanding, a Caravan icing accident is not a fair
demonstration of your point. There have been a relative high number of
Caravan accidents due to ice over the last ten or so years, including two
on the same night within minutes of each other out of Plattsburgh, NY,
which has an elevation of somewhere around 300 feet MSL.

Isn't the FAA taking a very close look at the Caravan's known ice
certification these days?



--
Peter