20230528008739A

The pilot in command (PIC) departed from a private airstrip at mackie ranch (UT91) approximately 6 miles sw of Enterprise Utah. The PIC planned a route of flight from UT91 to las vegas. The airman stated he had planned and flown this route in the past. The airfield is at an elevation of 5642 feet. The sheriff reported the temperature to be approximately 85 degrees fahrenheit at the site of the crash. The altitude of the crash was approximately 6900 feet. The outside conditions were VMC. The PIC departed the field and started a normal climb out. He was flying a heading of approximately 266 degrees towards a saddle in the mountains to the wsw of UT91. As the aircraft was approaching the saddle the aircraft started to lose performance and was only able to continue climbing at less than 50’ per minute. The airman had chosen to fly up the left side of the saddle which he stated did not leave the aircraft enough room to turn around. The PIC stated from the perspective inside the aircraft it appeared as though the aircraft would clear the trees and saddle of the mountain. At the time the aircraft reached the saddle of the mountain it was not above tree top level. The aircraft first stuck the tops of trees before losing further altitude where the aircraft struck the side of the mountain which caused to aircraft to flip upside down with the wing tops down. The aircraft did not have the necessary climb performance for the route chosen. Due to high density altitude and downdrafts near the saddle of the mountain. The aircraft made a controlled flight into terrain (cfit) due to insufficient altitude.