Incident Overview
After a night of freezing rain followed by snow, an airplane was parked on a ramp. A witness assisting the pilot in removing snow observed that 80% of the wing was covered with a coarse ice layer measuring 1/16 to 3/16 inch thick. This ice was not removed before flight.
Flight Events
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported hearing a decrease in engine power and experiencing surges. She then searched for a suitable landing area.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, a Lubbock city firefighter noted ice approximately 1/16 inch thick on the wing, with a rough texture consistent with freezing rain deposition. An exhaustive inspection of the engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
Official Findings
The probable cause was determined to be the pilot's failure to remove ice from the airframe before takeoff. Contributing factors included freezing rain the previous night and the pilot's incomplete preflight inspection.