ANC04LA118

The private pilot reported he had successfully landed his airplane on a remote, off-airport beach. During the subsequent takeoff attempt, the airplane encountered soft sand, and he was unable to maintain directional control. He aborted the takeoff, but the airplane nosed over in the sand as it came to a stop, and received structural damage.

On September 6, 2004, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-22-160 airplane, N9028D, received substantial damage when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff from a remote beach site, about 4 miles north of Kenai, Alaska. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The local, Title 14, CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Soldotna, Alaska, about 1400.

The pilot reported in his written report to the NTSB, that after a successful landing on the remote coastal beach, he initiated a takeoff in the opposite direction of his landing, and attempted to stay in his original tire tracks in the sand. He noted that after approximately 50 yards, he was unable to stay in the tire tracks, and was unable to maintain directional control. He aborted the takeoff, but the airplane continued to roll forward, and eventually nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, rudder, and lift struts. The pilot, a certificated aviation mechanic, noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.