Accident Sequence
The airplane was cleared for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 24, with instructions to circle to land on runway 06. The crew broke off the approach to runway 24. A witness observed the airplane at low altitude on a left downwind for runway 06, flying in and out of clouds. While on the base leg, the airplane turned left. A witness saw the left wing make contact with the ground. Several pilots from the Air National Guard (ANG) at the airport arrived at the crash site minutes after the accident.
Weather and Ice Observations
An ANG pilot described the weather at the time as visibility less than one mile with freezing rain and sleet. The same pilot reported that the airplane's wings and empennage were covered with ice approximately 1/8 inch thick. Another ANG pilot also observed the ice. Before the crash, one witness reported that the engine sounded as if it were at full rpm.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction. Both occupants were killed. The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the pilot's inadequate inflight decision, which resulted in ice accretion on the aircraft, degradation of aircraft performance, an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and an inflight collision with the ground. Contributing factors were the icing conditions.