What happened
Prior to the accident, the pilot landed at MGN approximately 15 minutes before departure to collect passengers. During the descent, the pilot reported that the aircraft encountered light ice and activated the deice boots during the instrument approach. Although a preflight inspection was performed and no significant ice was noted on the aircraft prior to departing MGN, the pilot experienced unusual handling during the takeoff roll. As the Cessna 414A reached rotation speed, the controls felt mushy, prompting the pilot to immediately decide to abort the takeoff. During the aborted maneuver, the aircraft slid on snow at the departure end of the runway and subsequently impacted a fence and a snow bank. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft following the impact. Photographs taken by FAA inspectors and local law enforcement revealed the presence of leading edge ice on the wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the horizontal stabilizer. An FAA inspector documented that the ice on the leading edge was approximately 1/4-inch thick.