What happened
Following a period of overnight parking in light to moderate snow and freezing drizzle, the aircraft departed under low instrument meteorological conditions. While the pilot had cleared snow and ice from the wings, the horizontal stabilizer remained contaminated. The aircraft was operated significantly above its maximum certified gross weight and positioned beyond the aft center-of-gravity limit. Furthermore, the aircraft was carrying 12 occupants despite having only 10 available seats, none of whom were qualifying lap children.
During takeoff, the pilot initiated rotation at approximately 88 knots, which was 4 knots below the recommended speed for icing configurations. Shortly after liftoff, the stall warning and stick shaker activated. Approximately 15 seconds into the flight, the stick pusher also engaged, with all three systems continuing to operate intermittently. The aircraft entered a left turn, with airspeed dropping to roughly 80 knots as the bank angle reached 64 degrees at an altitude of 380 feet. The aircraft then entered a descent that ended in an impact in a dormant corn field approximately 3/4-mile west of the airport.
Findings
Post-accident examinations of the airframe and engine performance showed no mechanical failures or malfunctions. While the snow on the empennage was present, analysis indicated that the improper loading and the resulting aft center-of-gravity were the primary drivers of the instability. The aircraft's pitch sensitivity was heightened by the extreme aft CG, making control difficult.
Simulations revealed that the pilot's rotation technique—characterized by a rapid and heavy pull on the control column—combined with the heavy weight and aft CG to create an excessively high angle of attack immediately after rotation. This triggered the stall protection systems. The pilot's subsequent attempts to manage the aircraft's pitch oscillations led to a deep stall and a total loss of control. While weather conditions could have caused spatial disorientation, the evidence suggests the accident was caused by the pilot's struggle to respond to the stall protection system activations.