Accident Overview
The pilot was departing a private, fly-in community airport on a personal flight. He was familiar with the airport and played a key role in its development. Fog was present at the time, and witnesses described it as "rolling up the valley," a frequent event at the airport.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses observed the airplane lift off the runway, drift to the left, and disappear into fog with the landing gear extended. They heard the engine running normally, with no change in sound, until the crash. Subsequently, they heard two distinct "booms" about 4 to 6 seconds apart. They ran to the departure end of the runway to look for a crash site but could not see wreckage, smoke, or fire due to the fog.
Wreckage and Investigation
The wreckage was located on elevated terrain in a heavily wooded area approximately 1,500 feet north of the departure end of the runway. The elevation at the crash site was about 250 feet higher than the departure end. A swath through the treetops leading to the main wreckage indicated a near-level flight path at impact. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure.
Weather Conditions
A review of the weather by an NTSB meteorologist revealed that the departure airport was at the edge of an area of low-topped clouds. Airport remarks included "Mountainous terrain all quadrants."