What happened
The aircraft performed a hard landing on a frozen lake during a precautionary maneuver. The pilot reported that cargo had shifted during flight, which contributed to a loss of airspeed of approximately 15 mph. Suspecting an icing problem due to the performance issues, the pilot decided to make an unscheduled landing.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft for signs of ice accumulation. No ice was found on the aircraft after the landing. However, the impact from the hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the incident included the shift of cargo during flight and the subsequent loss of airspeed. The pilot's decision to land on a frozen lake was a precautionary measure based on the belief that icing was the cause, although post-accident inspection revealed no ice.