What happened
A pilot and one passenger were conducting an air taxi flight departing from a remote camp airstrip. The aircraft, which was equipped with wheels and skis, was attempting to depart from a runway measuring 1,200 feet in length. Prior to the departure, the pilot had calculated that a takeoff distance of 800 feet would be required.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was traveling in an uphill direction. As the run progressed, the airplane's skis encountered sandy surface conditions, which prevented the aircraft from accelerating as anticipated. The takeoff roll continued past the end of the runway onto the frozen surface of a nearby river.
Recognizing the loss of performance, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff by closing the throttle. However, the aircraft subsequently collided with the river bank. The impact resulted in damage to the wings and the landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.