The airplane collided with terrain at about 1642 Pacific time, shortly after taking off on a planned IFR flight in instrument conditions. The private pilot and two passengers were killed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage from impact forces and a post-crash fire. Radar tracked a secondary VFR beacon code departing the airport at 1639. The target made left and right turns; the maximum altitude attained was 2400 feet. The target then descended 600 feet in nine seconds.
