N5057Y

On February 13, 2007, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a ski-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N5057Y, sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees, following a partial loss of engine power and an aborted takeoff, about 41 miles northeast of Gulkana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 16, the pilot stated he was taking off on a snow-covered lake when he felt the airplane was not accelerating fast enough to climb over the trees at the end of the takeoff area. He said he closed the throttle, and aborted the takeoff. The pilot said the airplane slid into the trees. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane during earlier flights that day, but he felt the engine may not have been producing full power during the accident takeoff. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.

The airplane was not examined by the NTSB, and the pilot did not provide additional information regarding what may have precipitated the loss of engine power.