On June 30, 1998, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Champion 7GCB airplane, N9809Y, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote airstrip, about 20 miles southwest of Hope, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot/owner, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1700. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, on July 1, the pilot reported that he was departing from a remote airstrip, estimated to be about 1200 feet long. He stated that while on the takeoff roll, the airplane passed through a small stream flowing across the airstrip, slowing the airplane's takeoff run. The airplane failed to become airborne and struck an embankment at the end of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.