What happened
Prior to the flight, the wings and stabilizer of the aircraft had been swept, which left a layer of "polished" frost on the surfaces. After loading freight and servicing the aircraft with 120 gallons of fuel, the pilot performed start, taxi, and run-up procedures. The takeoff roll began from the approach end of a 10,300-foot runway using 35" manifold pressure and 2250 RPM.
At approximately 100 feet AGL, the pilot adjusted the power to 30" manifold pressure and 2000 RPM while raising the flaps to climb at 82 knots. The aircraft failed to climb and would not accelerate in level flight. Despite an increase in power to 31" manifold pressure and 2100 RPM, the pilot experienced a definite loss of power. The pilot subsequently aborted the takeoff, resulting in damage to the aircraft when it encountered snow-covered terrain beyond the end of the runway. There were no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation found no pre-accident part failure or malfunction of the engine or the aircraft. However, investigators discovered that the entire aircraft was covered with a coating of frost. Additionally, an examination of company records revealed a discrepancy in weight; while the empty weight of the aircraft was recorded as 5088 lbs, the actual empty weight was 5285 lbs. An FAA inspector determined that the takeoff gross weight exceeded the maximum limit by 130 lbs.