Incident Discovery
A FAA Flight Standards District Office inspector contacted the NTSB investigator-in-charge and reported receiving information about an unreported accident at a remote off-airport site. The information indicated that the accident had occurred about 30 days prior, and that the airplane remained at the accident site. The inspector traveled to the site and confirmed the airplane's presence, observing damage to the left wing and left wing spar.
Damage Assessment
During the site visit, the inspector also noted substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The airplane had significant structural damage, consistent with a hard impact.
Pilot and Mechanic Interviews
After returning to the local airport where the airplane was usually kept, the inspector spoke with a certificated aircraft mechanic who was familiar with the accident. The mechanic identified the pilot and stated that the pilot had attempted to take off from a frozen lake but hit a crack in the ice. The mechanic reported that the airplane nosed down, striking the propeller and left wing on the ice. The mechanic also stated that the pilot had one passenger at the time of the accident.
Investigation Status
The inspector made contact with the pilot, but the pilot refused to cooperate with the investigation. The pilot has not responded to any subsequent requests for information from the NTSB. The investigation remains open, with limited information available due to the pilot's non-cooperation.