On September 23, 1997, about 1135 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B, N1831C, crashed during takeoff from a remote area, about 35 miles north-northeast of Lime Village, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 26, 1997, at 0910, the pilot reported he was departing a gravel area located about 1,700 feet mean sea level. The takeoff area is about 800 feet long and oriented on an east/west direction, located along the Black Bear Creek. The pilot departed toward the west and lifted off near the end of the takeoff area. The tail of the airplane struck the tops of several willow trees, about 15 feet above the ground. The elevator received damage, and the pilot was unable to push forward on the control wheel. The airplane then stall/mushed, and settled onto the ground. The airplane's main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck additional willow trees. The pilot reported the weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of: Wind, 090 degrees at 3 knots; visibility, 50 statute miles; sky condition and ceiling, 6,000 feet scattered; temperature, 45 degrees F.