Accident Details
Approximately one hour before departure, the airplane was removed from a hangar. During this period, the ambient temperature was about 32°F and light snow was falling. No deicing fluid was applied to the airplane. The pilot reported observing only water on the wings prior to the flight. However, a passenger who was also a rated pilot informed an Alaska state trooper that the airplane had accumulated a small amount of ice before takeoff.
Flight and Impact
The airplane became airborne approximately 1,000 feet from the end of the 5,576-foot-long runway. Shortly after rotation, the aircraft began to buffet and could not climb. It subsequently impacted the ground in a near-horizontal attitude on level, snow-covered tundra.
Post-Accident Observations
Immediately after exiting the airplane, the pilot observed a coarse layer of ice on the aft two-thirds of the wings. A subsequent test run of both engines revealed no problems that would have caused or contributed to the inability of the airplane to sustain flight.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is the pilot in command not removing the ice from the plane's airfoil surfaces before takeoff. The weather condition was a factor.