What happened
The aircraft departed from runway 18 carrying four occupants and approximately 98 gallons of fuel. At the time of departure, the wind was blowing from 210 degrees at 8 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. The pressure altitude was approximately 8,900 feet, and moderate turbulence was reported in the area. Witnesses observed that the aircraft required a longer-than-normal takeoff roll and failed to gain significant altitude after liftoff. Shortly after leaving the runway, the pilot initiated a left turn just south of the airport while still at a very low altitude. The aircraft was unable to clear trees in a wooded area during this maneuver. Approximately 365 feet past the initial tree contact, the plane impacted the ground. The crash site elevation was reported to be 7,133 feet, located in hilly and mountainous terrain near an airport with an elevation of 6,911 feet.
The investigation
The investigation revealed no pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure of the aircraft systems. A visual examination of the spark plugs indicated indications of a rich mixture. Additionally, the mixture control was found in the full rich position after the accident. The configuration of the landing gear and flaps immediately after liftoff could not be verified due to the nature of the impact.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the high density altitude conditions and the inadequate climb performance during a low-level maneuver. The combination of high airport elevation, temperature, and weight likely resulted in reduced aircraft performance. The decision to execute a turn at such a low altitude in mountainous terrain left insufficient margin for error, leading to controlled flight into terrain.