What happened
On the morning of the accident, the aircraft, a N36444, arrived at the airfield during light snowfall with temperatures above freezing. As the day progressed, the temperature fell below freezing and snow continued to accumulate. Around 11:00, the pilot submitted an IFR flight plan. During preparations, a ground worker cleared snow from the wings but observed that ice patches remained on the left wing. The pilot chose to proceed without further deicing.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loss of lift accompanied by a leftward yaw. While the plane appeared to stabilize momentarily, it then began to vibrate, yawed again, and entered a left bank. This resulted in a descent that ended in a ground impact. Post-accident inspections of the engines revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
Findings
Investigations into the pilot's medical status revealed that he was using prescription medications, including diazepam, nordiazepam, and oxazepam, at the time of the flight. Additionally, the pilot had undergone surgery for a tumor related to the left optic nerve in March 1990. Although the aviation medical examiner was aware of the pilot's hypertension treatment and recent surgery, these medical details were not accurately reflected in the pilot's official FAA medical records, as the pilot had denied recent medical treatment and medication use in his most recent application. The pilot's decision to fly with known ice on the wing was a critical factor in the loss of lift.