N5947D

On October 9, 2005, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-22 airplane, N5947D, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from an off airport site, located about 28 miles northwest of Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the off airport site, and was en route to the Skwentna Airport, Skwentna, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 13, the pilot reported that he was departing from an 800-foot long gravel bar located adjacent to a river. He said that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane began to accelerate, he heard an unusual noise, and he elected to abort the takeoff. He said that he was unable to stop the airplane before the airplane went into the river at the departure end of the site. The airplane subsequently nosed over, and sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted in the recommendation portion of the written report he submitted to the NTSB: "Use longer gravel bar with no departure over water."