The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0246 Eastern time after making a forced landing in a wooded residential area shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later reported retracting the landing gear and noticing the manifold pressure was “down.” He then tried to increase the manifold pressure with no response. The airplane hit trees and came to rest in a residential area, facing in the opposite direction of its original travel. A witness who lived in a house near the accident scene heard the airplane take off from the airport but it then “sounded like someone shut off the engine.” Shortly after that she heard the airplane hit trees outside the house.
