What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) N707JH had departed madera (mae) airport when VFR conditions existed at the destination Watsonville. On arrival to Watsonville the weather had deteriorated and patchy fog existed at the coast line with 500 overcast reported at the Watsonville airport. PIC pryor attempted to maneuver into the area VFR but encountered fog. While attempting to execute a go-around Mr. Pryor delayed the climb attitude because he had difficulty retracting the landing gear. Before a climb attitude was achieved the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed. Occupants (3 father, mother and son) were severely injured and hospitalized. When released FAA iic contacted, interviewed and counseled the PIC, Mr. Pryor. No further action required.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) N707JH HAD DEPARTED MADERA (MAE) AIRPORT WHEN VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE DESTINATION WATSONVILLE. ON ARRIVAL TO WATSONVILLE THE WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED AND PATCHY FOG EXISTED AT THE COAST LINE WITH 500 OVERCAST REPORTED AT THE WATSONVILLE AIRPORT. PIC PRYOR ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER INTO THE AREA VFR BUT ENCOUNTERED FOG. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND MR. PRYOR DELAYED THE CLIMB ATTITUDE BECAUSE HE HAD DIFFICULTY RETRACTING THE LANDING GEAR. BEFORE A CLIMB ATTITUDE WAS ACHIEVED THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREE TOPS, STALLED AND CRASHED. OCCUPANTS (3 FATHER, MOTHER AND SON) WERE SEVERELY INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED. WHEN RELEASED FAA IIC CONTACTED, INTERVIEWED AND COUNSELED THE PIC, MR. PRYOR. NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.