What happened
The pilot landed the airplane on a sandbar with the intention of stopping for lunch. Upon completing the meal, he initiated a takeoff attempt from the same location. During the ground roll, the aircraft failed to accelerate at an expected rate. Recognizing the insufficient speed and performance, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff.
As the airplane decelerated following the abort decision, the main landing gear wheels sank into the deep sand. This loss of traction and support caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch forward, resulting in a nose-over incident. The event caused substantial damage to the tail section and one of the lift struts.
The investigation
A review of the preaccident condition of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies or defects that would have hindered normal operation. The pilot confirmed that the aircraft was mechanically sound prior to the landing and subsequent takeoff attempt.