What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Engine quit on climbout. Tried to return but dragged wing in low turn to make runway. Open fields surround airport. (-23) the pilot patrick m. murphy stated that on takeoff climb, just after landing gear retraction, the engine had a reduction in power. He made a 180 left turn to down wind to return to the runway. He started another left turn to base when the aircraft struck the ground left wing first. The aircraft came to rest about 20 ft. beyond initial engine impact. There were two minor injuries. Inspection of the aircraft and engine systems, except the fuel injection unit which was destroyed, revealed no defects.
As the FAA filed it
ENGINE QUIT ON CLIMBOUT. TRIED TO RETURN BUT DRAGGED WING IN LOW TURN TO MAKE RUNWAY. OPEN FIELDS SURROUND AIRPORT. (-23) THE PILOT PATRICK M. MURPHY STATED THAT ON TAKEOFF CLIMB, JUST AFTER LANDING GEAR RETRACTION, THE ENGINE HAD A REDUCTION IN POWER. HE MADE A 180 LEFT TURN TO DOWN WIND TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. HE STARTED ANOTHER LEFT TURN TO BASE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND LEFT WING FIRST. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 20 FT. BEYOND INITIAL ENGINE IMPACT. THERE WERE TWO MINOR INJURIES. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE SYSTEMS, EXCEPT THE FUEL INJECTION UNIT WHICH WAS DESTROYED, REVEALED NO DEFECTS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.