Departure and Performance
A commercial-rated pilot and five passengers departed Colorado Springs, Colorado, on a proposed cross-country flight to Alabama. After takeoff, the aircraft was observed to climb to 150 feet very slowly and then level off. In a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that the aircraft would not climb or accelerate normally.
Emergency Landing
As the airspeed deteriorated, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing to unsuitable terrain. The landing was necessitated by the aircraft's inability to maintain climb performance and airspeed.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that the aircraft was 311 pounds over the maximum allowable gross weight at the time of the flight. Additionally, the density altitude was determined to be 7,500 feet. These conditions were present during the departure and contributed to the performance issues experienced.