Incident Overview
A pilot reported that an accident occurred during an attempted takeoff from a frozen lake. The pilot had first performed a touch-and-go landing on the lake's surface to assess its suitability for landing. During that touch-and-go, the airplane touched down in crusty snow and water, causing it to bog down. The pilot was able to taxi to a more suitable area of the lake to attempt a takeoff.
Pre-Takeoff Actions
Before the takeoff attempt, the pilot packed snow by conducting several high-speed taxi runs across the intended takeoff area. On the final taxi run prior to the takeoff attempt, the pilot lifted the nosewheel to pass over a wet spot on the lake, inadvertently causing the airplane to become airborne.
Loss of Control
Once airborne, the pilot attempted to push the nose down, but the airplane's elevator was frozen due to accumulated snow and slush. Unable to lower the nose, the pilot reduced engine power. Subsequently, the airplane collided with the frozen lake.
Findings
The investigation determined that the elevator became inoperative because of snow and slush accumulation, which prevented the pilot from controlling the aircraft's pitch attitude after the inadvertent takeoff.