Primary finding
Probable cause
Pilot in commands's poor preflight planning/preparation. Factors contributing to the accident were: lack of understanding of aircraft takeoff performance, lack of recency of pic experience in type of operation, loss of aircraft performance takeoff capabilities, terrain condition of soft wet snow.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The c206 skiplane decelerated upon encountering deep wet snow prior to lift off. Witnesses on board reported that the pilot elected to abort, veered to the right to avoid trees and struck a ditch, brush and irregular terrain and nosed over. Investigation on scene confirmed the conditions that supports findings of runway conditions. No ski anomaly was found at scene of the accident or on the accident airplane. The ski operation may have been first of season, no evidence that pilot had recent experience in snow ski takeoff. Pilot reported that he believed the right ski dragged on takeoff due to low tire pressure which allowed the insert on which the tire rests to drag in the snow.
Source record
Factual narrative
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