Incident Overview
A pilot departed from Runway 17L at 1705 CST. Shortly after takeoff, he noticed a vibration. He decided to land and was cleared for Runway 14. According to the pilot, the vibration intensified at an airspeed of 130 knots. To mitigate the vibration and remain below the overcast, the pilot reduced power to decrease speed.
Loss of Altitude
As the pilot reduced power, he began losing altitude. He then applied full power, which resulted in a further increase in vibration, and the airspeed dropped to 110 knots. At that speed, the pilot was unable to climb or execute a normal landing on the runway.
Emergency Landing
The pilot extended the landing gear just before touching down on grassy terrain on the airport grounds. During the rollout, the aircraft collided with a snow fence, causing substantial damage.
Pre-flight Condition
The pilot stated that he had removed all frozen precipitation from the aircraft before departure. However, a witness reported seeing frozen precipitation on the aircraft just prior to takeoff and again after the accident. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot or identified during the investigation.