AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT

On December 11, 1999, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Bellanca 8GCBC airplane, N53910, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 10 miles south-southeast of Wasilla, Alaska, about latitude 61 degrees, 27 minutes north, and longitude 149 degrees, 45.2 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on December 13, 1999, the pilot reported that he was departing his private airstrip toward the north. The airstrip, oriented north/south, is about 1,200 feet long, and 125 feet wide. The airstrip surface was packed snow. The pilot said the wings of the airplane were coated with frost. He began a takeoff run, but the airplane did not lift off the ground. He then aborted the takeoff. The airplane went off the end of the airstrip and into a ditch. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, cowling, propeller, and the right wing lift strut.

AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT

The commercial certificated pilot was departing his private airstrip toward the north. The airstrip, oriented north/south, is about 1,200 feet long, and 125 feet wide. The airstrip surface was packed snow. The pilot said the wings of the airplane were coated with frost. He began a takeoff run, but the airplane did not lift off the ground. He then aborted the takeoff. The airplane went off the end of the airstrip and into a ditch. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, cowling, propeller, and the right wing lift strut.

AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT

The pilot's failure to remove frost from the wing surface of the airplane. A factor in the accident was the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff run.

END REPORT