On April 5, 1997, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12, N112PA, encountered soft terrain while taxiing for takeoff, about 20 miles north of Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On April 5, 1997, about 1830, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was a volunteer pilot supporting a snow machine race. He landed to pick up an injured driver to transport him, and another passenger, to Kotzebue. While taxiing for takeoff, the right ski broke through a layer of soft ice, and he applied engine power to exit the hole. The right main landing gear was broken at the fuselage attach point.