What happened
During a night departure in conditions involving light, wet snow, a Cessna 208B entered a steep descent after reaching an altitude of approximately 700 feet above ground level. The aircraft struck trees and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed in the accident.
Radar analysis indicated that the aircraft's takeoff and initial climb performance were consistent with the short-field takeoff procedures outlined in the manufacturer's flight manual. Notably, two other Cessna 208 aircraft had departed from the same airfield just 13 minutes and 3 minutes before the accident, though radar data showed those flights maintained a slower rate of climb.
Findings
Investigation into the circumstances revealed that the aircraft had been moved directly from a hangar to the runway without undergoing any deicing procedures. This occurred during the first instance of wet snow for the season, which was observed to be accumulating on engine cowlings of other aircraft in the area. The lack of deicing prior to departure is a significant factor in the sequence of events leading to the loss of control.