The hershey bar wing Pipers are not great performers at high density altitudes. That was not the case here. High temp today at BTV 71 degrees. Basin Harbor is near sea level. Takeoff distance for a PA28R 180 on standard day at gross is 1240’ to clear a 50’ obstacle. This was not a runway environment accident. No witnesses. Airplane reported overdue at home base. Aircraft not located until approximately 12 hours after departure. Some distance east of runway indicates they had likely already turned on course.
I helped dismantle a crashed PA28-235. Four heavy people and full fuel.They landed on the wrong side of a stone fence at the end of a private strip. One main tank hit a boulder that flattened the tank to the main spar. No fire, no injuries. These are very crashworthy airplanes. Way better than most comparable sheet metal airplanes . However one cannot expect to survive a spin into the ground.
Weight: Basin Harbor has no fuel so likely 100# plus down from full tanks. Standard useful load is 1120#, so even if this was a heavier than standard airplane they would have been below gross with four 170# people.