Preflight and Departure
Before the night flight, the pilot obtained a full, low-level weather briefing and filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Shortly after departure, while climbing through 5,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), the pilot encountered icing conditions and experienced a severe vibration in the aircraft's flight controls.
Return and Approach
The pilot decided to return to the departure airport. During the instrument approach to land, the airplane continued to accumulate ice on its airframe. The descent rate reached 1,500 feet per minute. At 1,750 feet MSL, the airplane broke out of the clouds with the windscreen completely covered with ice.
Impact and Examination
The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain approximately 40 feet short of the runway and skidded to a stop on the runway. Post-accident examination of the airplane's systems and powerplant revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The wings and windscreen had approximately 1 inch of ice on their respective surfaces.
Weather Information
The pilot reported that icing conditions were not forecast or reported prior to the flight.