N1270

On August 11, 1995, at 1300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Pitts, PTS1C airplane, N1270, registered to and operated by the pilot, veered off the runway and nosed over during the takeoff roll at Talkeetna, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing Talkeetna and the destination was Birchwood, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.

During a telephone conversation with the pilot on August 14, 1995, he stated that as he was back taxiing for takeoff on the runway, he saw a moose standing in the alder bushes adjacent to the runway. He aligned the airplane for takeoff and applied power. When the airplane reached an approximate speed of 25 miles per hour, he "swerved" the airplane so he could see the moose around the nose of the airplane. He stated the airplane responded quickly and before he knew it, he was off the side of the runway and the airplane nosed over.