20200725018169A

The pilot and 5 passengers boarded aircraft N7677C for a pleasure flight to page Arizona for sight seeing of the grand canyon. The aircraft departed the U42 airport south from runway 16 at approximately 1338 local time. After takeoff the plane failed to gain altitude greater than 500' AGL. Departure airport video shows the pilot and passengers boarding the aircraft with a small back pack, small pilot type bag, baby carrier, and toddler seat. The video shows the aircraft startup, taxi to runway 16 and take off from runway 16. The plane departed the runway at approximately 1338 local time. Airport video footage reveled that the plane used greater than 4000' of the 5800' runway before becoming airborne. Once airborne the plane failed to gain altitude, climbing to less than 500' AGL and is then seen descending, followed by a smoke plume at the location of the crash site approximately 1.5 miles south of U42 airport. The accident occurred after the plane failed to gain altitude, stalled and crashed into a neighborhood. Accident site evidence reveals that the aircraft struck a house, as indicated by the prop cuts into the roof. Evidence suggests that after initial impact of the house the aircrafts left wing struck a nearby tree causing the wing to depart the aircraft likely opening the wing fuel tank resulting in a fire of the home east of the house where evidence of initial impact was found. The fuselage then came to rest on its right side approximately 25' in the direction of flight. The pilot and 4 passengers were assisted out of the burning aircraft by local residence. The 5th passenger could not be extricated due to intensity of the fire. The resultant fire at the home east of the initial impact, likely resulted in the homeowner fatality. Accident site evidence revealed multiple prop cuts to 4-6 inch diameter tree branches indicating that the aircraft was making some power when it struck the house and tree. It could not be determinied if the aircraft CG and engine power was within that required by the pilot operating handbook and will require NTSB testing and evaluation to rule out as the cause. Airport video showed that the aircraft seating configuration was; pilot and spouse in the front seats, the baby and toddler in the forward middle seats, female juvenile and mother in the most aft seats. Passenger weights could not be determined, therefore there is not conclusive evidence of an out of CG condition. Aircraft maintenance logs could not be located and it was reported by the pilots CFI that the pilot had previously been advised by a DPE that aircraft maintenance logs should not be carried on board the aircraft. Evidence of aircraft maintenace logs was not found at the accident site. The pilots logbook was also not found and according to the pilots previous CFI, the pilot used an electronic logbook which was unattainable. Pilot flight time was validated based on FAA form 8710-1 from the practical flight test that occurred on 7/16/2020. Evidence gathered at the accident site did not conclude mechanical issues to be the cause and will require NTSB testing and evaluation of the engine.