Originally Posted by
Pilot DAR
A look on Google Earth shows a number of open areas around the airport. As for a [possible] turnback, a Cessna Cardinal RG departing from a 4000 foot runway should have a few decent options if it was an EFATO. Agreed, none great, but choices.
That may be understimating the roughness of the terrain, at this airport in the Adirondack Mountains.
https://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...sh-identified/
It also appears the takeoff was to the northwest (crash "at the end of a runway, near the North Elba Athletic Fields"), with the city of Lake Placid ahead on the runway centerline, and buildings beginning only 200m or so from the end of the runway
(Speculation) It is even possible this was actually an aborted takeoff (or attempt to put the plane back down while still over the runway), that ran right off the runway and down the embankment/gully (see shadows) and into the trees at the NW runway end.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/La...n-US&entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/place/La...n-US&entry=ttu
EDIT: However, it appears it may have just landed short on an immediate 180° return, and hit the embankment going the other way.
https://www.wcax.com/2023/10/02/2-de...k-plane-crash/