What happened
The accident occurred approximately 25 miles northeast of Findlay, Ohio, during adverse winter weather conditions. On the day of the incident, heavy wet snow was falling continuously. The pilot reported clearing snow from the wings of the aircraft prior to departure but did not remove snow from the horizontal stabilizer surface of the T-tail configuration.
During the takeoff roll, a considerable amount of slush remained on the runway. This slush was thrown up over the aircraft as it accelerated. After taking off, the pilot managed to climb to an altitude of 1100 feet MSL. Shortly thereafter, the airspeed dropped to 60 knots, and the landing gear automatically extended.
Recognizing the loss of performance, the pilot used his instruments to keep the wings level and executed a crash landing in a nearby farm field. Weather reports indicated that at approximately 2055 EST, visibility was reduced to 4 miles with freezing rain and broken clouds at 800 feet. Earlier conditions included a 1300-foot ceiling, half-mile visibility in snow, and winds from 020 degrees at 11 knots.
The investigation
The primary focus of the examination was the condition of the aircraft surfaces prior to flight. Evidence confirmed that while the wings were cleared, the horizontal tail surface retained significant snow accumulation. This ice buildup altered the aerodynamic profile of the empennage, contributing to the loss of control and performance during the initial climb phase.
Findings
The accident was caused by ice accumulation on the horizontal stabilizer which degraded aircraft performance. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to ensure all critical surfaces were free of contamination and the presence of slush on the runway, which further exacerbated ice formation during takeoff.