Flight Details
The night before the accident, the pilot and two passengers went gambling and retired between 0315 and 0400. They awoke at approximately 0830. At 1007, they departed from Bullhead, Arizona, en route to Big Bear, California.
Accident Sequence
Upon attempting to depart from the Big Bear airport, the pilot left the mixture control in the full rich position. As the aircraft transitioned out of ground effect, it stalled. The pilot held the yoke aft as the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 1,880 feet beyond the runway's end. The front-right seated passenger videotaped the accident flight.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had a total flight time of 93 hours, with 33 hours in the make and model of the accident aircraft. No evidence was found that the pilot had received dual instruction in high-density-altitude takeoffs.
Additional Findings
The density altitude at the time was in excess of 8,500 feet. The aircraft's certificated maximum gross weight was exceeded. A box containing marijuana was found in the aircraft wreckage. Toxicology results confirmed the presence of marijuana in the pilot's blood and in the cameraman/passenger's urine.