The airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces and a post-crash fire when it collided with trees at 1125 Pacific time. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Before takeoff, the pilot indicated to a friend he would fly over the friend’s home later that morning. The pilot’s friend, who is also a pilot, observed the airplane circling his home. He noted the landing gear and flaps were down. The airplane rolled out heading toward rising terrain, and the landing gear and flaps began to go up. He looked down, and then heard a noise; he looked back up and observed smoke. Fire consumed the majority of the airframe skin and structure.
