What happened
Upon arrival at the airport, the crew and passenger experienced heavy snowfall. The unspecified aircraft was pre-flighted, fueled, and towed from a heated hangar. After taxiing to the end of the 5,400-foot runway, the pilot performed an engine run-up.
During the pre-flight process, the co-pilot contacted the Elkins, West Virginia, AFSS via cell phone to receive a weather briefing, file an IFR flight plan, and request IFR clearance. After being placed on hold and experiencing a disconnected call, the co-pilot eventually obtained clearance directly from Indianapolis Center. Following this, a second engine run-up was performed. At this time, the pilot noted that approximately 3 to 4 inches of slush had accumulated on the runway and about 1/2 to 3/4 inches of slush had collected on the upper surfaces of both wings.
The pilots decided not to return to the hangar, deciding instead that the slush would be removed by the force of the takeoff roll. The pilot estimated that approximately 4,500 feet of the runway were used before reaching the rotation speed (Vr) of 80 knots. Upon rotation, the aircraft failed to lift normally. To avoid obstacles, the pilot turned the aircraft to the right and retarded the throttle. The airplane subsequently touched down, slid, and turned before coming to rest upright facing the runway. All occupants were not injured.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed that both wings were covered in snow, with localized areas of ice found on the top surfaces near the trailing edges. The air intake and pitot tube were clear of debris. There were no mechanical deficiencies reported. The time elapsed from when the aircraft was removed from the hangar to the accident was approximately one hour.