Piper PA-18-150 N57617 accident near Bethel, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was departing a frozen lake in his tundra tire, tailwheel-equipped airplane. The surface of the lake was “polished” smooth by wind and there was a 6 knot, 90-degree crosswind. During takeoff, the tail took longer than normal to become airborne, the pilot was planning to abort the takeoff when the tail began to lift off the ground. He continued the takeoff, but it became apparent to the pilot that the airplane would not get airborne in time. He aborted the takeoff but the airplane had insufficient braking resulting in the airplane sliding off the lake into vegetation along the shore. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC25LA033 for the full record.