The pilot in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that during an instrument flight rules, night flight, he initiated an approach in instrument meteorological conditions. During the approach, he saw that rime ice had accumulated on the left wing. He continued the approach and extended the landing gear, and then configured the flaps for landing.

The pilot attempted to level off at 1,620ft although the minimum descent altitude was 1,600ft, but the airplane stalled. He applied forward pressure on the yoke to lower the nose and applied full throttle. He recalled that the airplane was extremely slow to respond and, "flying on the ragged edge of stall." The airplane exited the clouds and he could see the airport, but the airplane impacted terrain in a field about 2.4 nautical miles short of the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The manufacturer pilot operating handbook indicates on page 2-1, per the limitations section:

WARNING

FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS IS PROHIBITED

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.