Incident Overview
A pilot flying a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-22 landed on an unimproved airstrip in a remote area of Alaska. Upon landing, the pilot observed that the runway had a significant rut or bump located approximately one-third to halfway down the strip.
Takeoff Sequence
During the subsequent takeoff roll, at an airspeed of approximately 50 miles per hour, the right main tire encountered the rut. This caused the airplane to swerve to the right and head off the runway. The pilot attempted corrective actions, but they proved inadequate to keep the aircraft on the strip.
Abort and Outcome
Realizing that the aircraft could not remain on the runway, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. When he applied the brakes, the airplane nosed over. The aircraft sustained damage during the event. No injuries were reported in the source.
Aircraft and Location
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-22, a tailwheel-type airplane. The exact registration was not specified in the source. The location was an unimproved airstrip in a remote part of Alaska. Weather conditions and time of day were not provided.
Investigation
The accident investigation focused on the pilot's actions and the runway condition. No probable cause was assigned in the source material. The source did not state any violations, mechanical failures, or pilot inexperience. The rut in the runway was identified as a contributing condition, but no direct causal link was made in the source.