What happened
A private pilot and four passengers were conducting a personal IFR flight when an attempted takeoff on Runway 35 resulted in a runway excursion. At the time of the attempt, snow drifts were present on both sides of the runway. The wind was estimated at 320 degrees at 25 knots, with gusts reaching 35 knots.
As the aircraft reached rotation speed, it encountered wind shear from 260 degrees. This shear caused the left wing to lift, leading to a loss of directional control. The aircraft subsequently settled back onto the runway, at which point the left main wheel struck a snow bank. This impact caused the aircraft to spin 180 degrees to the left. During the excursion, the tail section of the plane passed through the snow bank, and the aircraft departed the runway to the left.
Following the incident, the pilot noted that upon exiting the aircraft, the wind had shifted to 190 degrees at an estimated 40 knots. A witness on the ground confirmed that a 180 degree wind shift had occurred and estimated the wind speed at 40 knots. There were no injuries reported among the five occupants.