Incident Details
On a charter flight, the originally intended aircraft failed to start, leading to the selection of Cessna A185F, N3343S, which was equipped with wheel/skis. The pilot reported that the preceding night had been extremely cold. The aircraft had been preheated and run up, then the engine cover was replaced and the heater plugged in.
Sequence of Events
During taxi to the runway, the pilot cycled the propeller once. However, the oil temperature had not yet reached the operating range. At an ambient temperature of -21°F, the oil would not heat up at the low power required for taxiing. The takeoff was normal until the pilot reduced propeller RPM. Shortly thereafter, the engine surged. The pilot attributed the surge to cold oil in the governor system and decided to return to the airport for landing.
While turning back, the pilot reportedly diverted his attention. During the subsequent recovery attempt, the aircraft stalled and struck the ground.
Findings
The pilot diverted his attention during the turn, which preceded the stall and ground impact. The engine surge was attributed to cold oil, but the stall occurred during the recovery after the turn.