What happened
During a visual flight rules local flight, the pilot of a ski-equipped airplane attempted to take off from a snow-covered lake. During the takeoff roll, the pilot noted that the aircraft was not accelerating with enough speed to clear the trees located at the end of the takeoff area. In an attempt to abort the takeoff, the pilot closed the throttle, but the aircraft subsequently slid into the trees.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical issues with the aircraft during previous flights earlier that day. However, the pilot expressed concern that the engine may not have been producing full power during the takeoff attempt. The aircraft sustained structural damage to its wings and fuselage. The NTSB did not examine the aircraft following the event, and no further information was provided regarding the specific cause of the potential loss of engine power.