Background
A pilot reported that light snow was falling and approximately 2 inches of snow were already on the ground. The runway had been plowed about one hour prior to his departure. The airplane had been towed from a hangar with a temperature of 68°F approximately 20 minutes before the flight.
Accident Sequence
During takeoff, the airplane accelerated normally and became airborne after traveling about 2,160 feet down the 3,240-foot runway. After liftoff, the airplane did not climb above an altitude of 25 to 30 feet above ground level. It subsequently impacted an embankment at the departure end of the runway, continued across railroad tracks, and through a fence before coming to rest in a brick storage yard approximately 800 to 1,000 feet from the end of the runway.
Weather Conditions
The weather facility located 5 miles from the accident site reported wind from 100 degrees at 7 knots, visibility of 1/2 mile with snow and freezing fog, and a temperature of 27°F.
Probable Cause
The pilot stated that someone told him the airport did not have any deicing equipment, and therefore he did not deice the airplane. The probable cause, as determined by the official investigation, was the pilot's failure to deice the airplane prior to departure.