What happened
Prior to departure, the pilot received a weather briefing indicating that a cold front was moving through the flight route, bringing moderate icing in clouds up to 16,000 feet. During pre-flight operations, the aircraft had to return to the ramp after taxiing for takeoff because of a dead battery. While the battery was being recharged, the pilot expressed apprehension regarding the weather conditions and instructed the mechanic to report any discrepancies that might result in a flight cancellation, noting a dislike for flying in the local weather conditions.
Approximately 50 minutes after departing, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was in serious trouble. No further communications were received after this transmission. The wreckage was subsequently located in an area of steep mountainous terrain at an elevation exceeding 9,000 feet MSL. At the time of the accident, blizzard weather conditions were present.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the wings and stabilators had separated from the aircraft prior to ground impact. Additionally, the leading edge surfaces of the airplane showed evidence of pitting and paint abrasion, with some areas stripped down to bare metal.