Accident Sequence
An on-demand passenger flight was conducting a takeoff from a 1,000-foot-long gravel bar located along a remote river. The pilot was picking up two passengers who had been on a river float trip. The gravel bar had been used by the operator in the past for similar operations.
During the takeoff run, the airplane had just attained flying speed when it suddenly veered to the right. The airplane lifted off and assumed a nose-high pitch attitude. As it climbed, the tail struck a tree situated along the edge of the gravel bar. The impact jammed the stabilator.
The pilot attempted to counteract the situation by pushing forward on the flight controls, but was unable to lower the nose of the airplane. The airplane continued climbing to an altitude of about 100 feet above the ground, at which point it stalled and began descending toward the river. The airplane subsequently collided with the river and came to rest in approximately 3 feet of water.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the airplane's right main landing gear, elevator, fuselage, and engine. No further details regarding the extent of damage were provided.