20220423005739A

On 04/23/2022 N321PF a Diamond star DA-40 departed kcdc at 1634 with four persons on board (POB). At approximately 1648 the aircraft crashed into the side of the mountain. There was a post-crash fire, all four POB fatal and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot rented the aircraft for part 91 flight from kspk via kcdc, kbce, kcny, stopping for fuel and sightseeing purposes returning to kspk the same evening. The aircraft departed kspk with a full tank of fuel about 40 gallons. Recorded airport surveillance showed N312PF arrived at kcdc at 1615, taxied to the self serve fueling station and added 7 gallons to each tank. The aircraft was parked, 3 passengers and pilot left for lunch when they returned, all four boarded the aircraft taxied to runway 2. Upon take off the aircraft banked to the right heading towards the canyon. A pilot rated witness driving down Cedar canyon westbound on state highway 14 reported seeing the aircraft flying up the canyon over the river about 300FT above the ground. He stated that when the aircraft was about to pass over his position, it turned left then right and the maneuvers were a quick rocking motion. He stated the propeller was under power, not wind milling. Another witness traveling on state highway 14 near the accident site, reported seeing the aircraft flying an easterly heading over the highway about 200 to 300FT aboutve the ground. The second witness stated the aircraft passed over his position he looked in the mirror and saw the aircraft bank hard to the south back across the highway as if they were trying to turn around in the narrow canyon. He stated at that point the aircraft?s wings appeared to be almost vertical and it didn?t look like it had enough speed to pull off that maneuver. The aircraft wreckage was located by first responders attending to a brush fire. The accident site revealed the aircraft impacted mountainous terrain along the souther edge of a canyon about 7 miles southeast of kcdc and came to rest inverted at 6,583? MSL. The debri field was about 150? Long from the first impact point, all major components of the aircraft were recovered for further examination. Positive continuity of controls. VMC, day, kcdc is 5590? MSL at 1853 lowest cloud condition was 9500? AGL, wind at 8 knots and visibility 10 miles. No recent engine or flight control maintenance accomplished. Weight and balance records indicate the aircraft took off from kspk over gross weight and again over gross weight prior to the crash from kcdc.