What happened
On July 6, 2024, at approximately 21:22 Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC, registration N3464D, crashed in a forested area near Swanson Airport (2W3) in Eatonville, Washington. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. The accident resulted in 2 fatalities.
Witnesses near the departure end of runway 16 reported hearing the aircraft perform an engine run-up before takeoff. One witness noted the aircraft flew over at an unexpectedly low altitude and heard the engine stop before the sound of a crash. Two other witnesses, located approximately 1,900 feet northwest of the site, observed the aircraft flying southbound at a low altitude, roughly 10 feet above the treetops. They described the aircraft as flying with a nose-high attitude and a slow airspeed while the engine produced smooth, continuous power. The witnesses observed the aircraft perform a left turn, roll inverted, and disappear below the tree canopy. They also noted the engine sound ceased prior to the impact.
The aircraft came to rest in a nose-down position within a forest about 0.5 nautical miles south of the departure end of runway 16. The wreckage showed extensive impact damage, including aft crush deformation to the forward fuselage and the leading edges of both wings. The engine and propeller were found buried in the ground beneath the wreckage. The accident site was at an elevation of 803 feet mean sea level, situated near rising terrain that reaches between 1,200 and 1,400 feet.