What happened
A commercial certificated pilot was performing a takeoff from a frozen lake covered in approximately one and a half feet of snow. The aircraft, which was equipped with skis, was departing toward the east on a lake measuring roughly one-quarter mile in length.
As the aircraft reached the point of lift-off during the takeoff run, the left ski struck an unseen object or bump beneath the snow. This impact caused the tip of the left ski to rotate downward into a near vertical position. The pilot noted that the bungee and cable used for retaining the ski tip were dangling loose following the strike.
The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing on the lake surface. During the touchdown, the tip of the left ski dug into the snow, causing the aircraft to nose over. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. There were no injuries reported.