NTSB Factual Report

On March 4, 2002, at 1300 central standard time, a Beech D35, N5985C, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 18 (5,500 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at the Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), Ankeny, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Ankeny Regional Airport at 1240.

The pilot reported in a written statement, "I departed IKV on [runway 18] and climbed to 3,000 [feet] on course to SPW (Spencer IA). I noticed some ice starting to form on the windshield. I called Flightwatch on [122.0]. They said only reported ice was 9000-12000 [feet]. I asked for weather to Spencer. They gave me the same weather I had gotten from FSS prior to departure. Ceiling 3200 broken, [possible] light snow flurries. Snow had passed to the east. As more ice started to form I decided to return to IKV. I called DSM approach for flight following when over Saylorville Lake. I was VFR. I proceeded to IKV. I did a normal pattern, but when flaring to land, the plane stalled early. The nose wheel hit the runway hard..."

NTSB Probable Cause

the excessive flare by the pilot. The icing conditions were a contributing factor.