Background
The aircraft had previously been flown from Orlando, Florida to Norfolk/Chesapeake, Virginia. The original pilot was not instrument rated. After the weather deteriorated in Virginia, the owner flew from Orlando via commercial airlines to fly the original occupants back to Florida.
Flight Events
A witness reported that before takeoff, there was a discussion about how the non-instrument rated pilot could obtain instrument flight time on the return flight. For the return flight, the owner occupied the right front seat as the pilot-in-command. According to the owner, during takeoff, the non-instrument rated pilot was flying the aircraft from the left front seat. The owner stated that he remembered the other pilot reaching for the landing gear handle to raise the gear, and seconds later, the aircraft hit a tree.
Witness Accounts
One witness reported that he could see the aircraft at all times during takeoff from lift-off until it crashed. No further details about the aircraft's condition or occupants were reported in the available source.