What happened
The aircraft was attempting to depart from a frozen seaplane landing area during winter conditions. The pilot selected an ice surface approximately 1,100 feet long for the departure. He initiated the takeoff roll with six passengers on board into an eight-knot crosswind.
During the ground roll, the aircraft traveled roughly 900 feet and appeared to have just reached flying speed when it encountered the first of several snow drifts. The plane subsequently struck approximately four of these drifts while still in ground effect. Following this contact, the aircraft lost lift and collided with nearby brush.
The investigation
Investigators analyzed the performance capabilities of the aircraft for this specific event. They calculated that the takeoff distance required at maximum gross weight was 1,100 feet under no-wind conditions. However, the actual gross weight for this specific flight could not be verified.