Incident Overview
A pilot was transporting dog food supplies in support of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Upon arrival at the checkpoint, the pilot was unable to locate the usual landing area due to a fresh layer of snow that obscured its boundaries. In response, he chose to land on an ice-covered slough, which had no snow accumulation on its surface.
Landing and Slide
During touchdown, the pilot reported experiencing a hard bounce, attributing it to the absence of snow that would normally provide a cushioning effect. As the landing roll commenced, the pilot found the braking action on the ice to be poor to nil. Consequently, the aircraft could not be stopped before sliding into scrub spruce trees situated at the end of the landing area.
Pilot Statement
The pilot described the braking conditions on the ice as "poor to nil," which contributed to his inability to halt the airplane within the available stopping distance.