De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 MK.1 N67112 accident near Kotzebue, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff from water after the airplane impacted a submerged object, which resulted in insufficient airspeed for liftoff and led to the pilot steering the airplane toward a mud embankment to avoid rocks.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a lake and after the floats came up on the step, the right float struck a submerged bog, which resulted in a brief deceleration of airspeed. After the float cleared the submerged bog, the airplane accelerated again, but the airspeed was not sufficient for liftoff, so the pilot aborted the takeoff. As the airplane approached rocks at the edge of the lake, he steered the airplane right onto a mud embankment, and the airplane slid to a stop short of an adjacent taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA562 for the full record.