What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On initial start-up on a personnel flight around several airports in the mountainous northern California area, the engine was primed with several pumps. Subsequent to engine start, the aircraft took-off and landed the destination airport without incident. 2.5 gallon of fuel was added and the trip continued with a passenger.
Note: the primer was not used during the second start.
After a normal run-up and systems check, the aircraft took-off and headed to a third airport before returning home.
During cruise at about 6500 feet MSL, the pilot added engine power in anticipation of climbing over a mountain ridge.
The pilot stated ?as I pushed the throttle forward the engine did not respond to power imput. After pumping the throttle numerous times it began to come back to life but at that point we had lost airspeed and altitude".
The aircraft hit two trees at about the 5300 foot level and wedged between the trees softening the impact.
Post accident investigation revealed the engine primer was in the unlocked and extended position.
Additionally, examination of the spark plugs indicated a rich mixture condition.
As the FAA filed it
ON INITIAL START-UP ON A PERSONNEL FLIGHT AROUND SEVERAL AIRPORTS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA, THE ENGINE WAS PRIMED WITH SEVERAL PUMPS. SUBSEQUENT TO ENGINE START, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK-OFF AND LANDED THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WITHOUT INCIDENT. 2.5 GALLON OF FUEL WAS ADDED AND THE TRIP CONTINUED WITH A PASSENGER.
NOTE: THE PRIMER WAS NOT USED DURING THE SECOND START.
AFTER A NORMAL RUN-UP AND SYSTEMS CHECK, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK-OFF AND HEADED TO A THIRD AIRPORT BEFORE RETURNING HOME.
DURING CRUISE AT ABOUT 6500 FEET MSL, THE PILOT ADDED ENGINE POWER IN ANTICIPATION OF CLIMBING OVER A MOUNTAIN RIDGE.
THE PILOT STATED ?AS I PUSHED THE THROTTLE FORWARD THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO POWER IMPUT. AFTER PUMPING THE THROTTLE NUMEROUS TIMES IT BEGAN TO COME BACK TO LIFE BUT AT THAT POINT WE HAD LOST AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE".
THE AIRCRAFT HIT TWO TREES AT ABOUT THE 5300 FOOT LEVEL AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE TREES SOFTENING THE IMPACT.
POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE PRIMER WAS IN THE UNLOCKED AND EXTENDED POSITION.
ADDITIONALLY, EXAMINATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS INDICATED A RICH MIXTURE CONDITION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.