Accident Overview
A pilot was preparing to take off from a remote gravel bar with a load of moose meat and a hunter in a STOL-modified airplane. The pilot reviewed the aircraft's performance tables for takeoff and determined that approximately 500 feet of runway would be required. The length of the gravel bar was estimated by the pilot to be 600 feet.
Pilot Report
In a report filed with the NTSB, the pilot stated that a ground witness observed the prevailing wind shift from an 8 to 10 knot headwind into a 5 knot tailwind at the moment the airplane became airborne at the end of the gravel bar. The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain flight, and the airplane settled into the water at the edge of the gravel bar and nosed over.
Prevention Comments
In his report, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by using lighter loads and making more trips, as well as paying closer attention to possible wind shear conditions. The source did not specify any injuries, fatalities, or damage to the aircraft beyond the nose-over.