Lack of flight visibility due ice on windshield leads to hard landing for GA small transport at geg.

Attributes
ACN	163848
Time
Date	199011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : geg
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 50
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 2839
ASRS Report	163848
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a trip from geg to bfi, I encountered moderate to severe icing at 4000-8000' MSL on takeoff from geg, I flew to eph and at that point made the decision to return to geg after a PIREP reported moderate to severe turbulence and icing over the cascade mountains. On our flight plan route to bfi, we had already encountered moderate to severe icing and the windshield was covered with ice. During our descent and approach to geg we picked up more ice and accumulated about 1/2-3/4' on the windshield. During the short final approach to runway 21, I had some visibility contact with the runway through a small hole in the ice on the left windshield. About 50' above the runway I lost visibility contact and attempted to orient myself through the side window. Unable to do so, I was about ready to add throttle for a missed approach when we struck the runway with both main landing gear, before I realized how low we were.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LACK OF FLT VISIBILITY DUE ICE ON WINDSHIELD LEADS TO HARD LNDG FOR GA SMT AT GEG.

Narrative: ON A TRIP FROM GEG TO BFI, I ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE ICING AT 4000-8000' MSL ON TKOF FROM GEG, I FLEW TO EPH AND AT THAT POINT MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN TO GEG AFTER A PIREP RPTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB AND ICING OVER THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS. ON OUR FLT PLAN RTE TO BFI, WE HAD ALREADY ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE ICING AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ICE. DURING OUR DSNT AND APCH TO GEG WE PICKED UP MORE ICE AND ACCUMULATED ABOUT 1/2-3/4' ON THE WINDSHIELD. DURING THE SHORT FINAL APCH TO RWY 21, I HAD SOME VIS CONTACT WITH THE RWY THROUGH A SMALL HOLE IN THE ICE ON THE LEFT WINDSHIELD. ABOUT 50' ABOVE THE RWY I LOST VIS CONTACT AND ATTEMPTED TO ORIENT MYSELF THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOW. UNABLE TO DO SO, I WAS ABOUT READY TO ADD THROTTLE FOR A MISSED APCH WHEN WE STRUCK THE RWY WITH BOTH MAIN LNDG GEAR, BEFORE I REALIZED HOW LOW WE WERE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.