Incident
On the first flight following a complete overhaul of both engines, an aircraft (registration N95UP) crashed after striking a tree northeast of the airport. The pilot, who was also the owner of the overhaul facility, and a passenger, the foreman responsible for installing the engines, were on board.
Witness Account
An airport employee heard the aircraft take off and noted that the engines did not sound right. Following the sound, the witness saw the aircraft northeast of the airport, heading toward the middle of the only available runway, a north-south runway. The aircraft was at low altitude with the left propeller feathered and the landing gear extended.
Collision and Conditions
When the aircraft was approximately a quarter-mile from the runway, it struck a 50-foot-tall pine tree, rolled inverted, and crashed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, with strong, gusty surface winds.
Performance Data
According to the owner's manual, for a 3,500-pound aircraft at 2,500 feet pressure altitude, the single-engine rate of climb with the landing gear up and propeller feathered is 320 feet per minute. With a windmilling propeller and landing gear down, the rate of climb is -230 feet per minute (i.e., a descent).
Examination
Examination of the aircraft and the left engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction.