Accident Overview
A ski-equipped airplane collided with trees and a snowbank after making a downhill takeoff from a runway covered with approximately 12 inches of slushy wet snow. The accident occurred just after the airplane passed the end of the runway, when it descended and impacted terrain.
Pilot and Flight History
The pilot, a private pilot with 57 hours of total flight experience, had recently purchased the airplane. On the day prior to the accident, the pilot flew the airplane for the first time, logging 1.8 hours with a more experienced pilot and friend. That flight was also the pilot's only experience as the pilot of an airplane equipped with skis or with a tail wheel.
Takeoff Sequence
According to the pilot, the airplane's tail wheel—which was not equipped with a ski—dragged in the snow during the takeoff roll. This drag prevented the airplane from becoming airborne sooner. After the pilot succeeded in lifting the tail out of the snow, he attempted to rotate the airplane before it had gained sufficient takeoff airspeed. This rotation caused the tail wheel to re-enter the snow. The airplane eventually became airborne about three-quarters of the way down the runway, then flew in ground effect until it passed over the end of the runway, where the terrain dropped away. Shortly thereafter, the airplane descended and struck trees and a snowbank.