What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft engine failed on takeoff, crashed at departure end of runway, burned from cockpit forward. (-23) on August 4, 1996, at 1400, a ayers S2R-G5 aircraft, N20GH, registered to and operated by holloway air service, inc., was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private strip near Start, Louisiana. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight operating under title 14 CFR part 137 and a flight plan was not filed. The aerial application flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the engine lost power during the takeoff roll. The turbine powered aircraft exited the end of the runway and caught on fire. The aircraft burned from the cockpit section forward. Witnesses reported they observed smoke from the engine during the takeoff roll.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED ON TAKEOFF, CRASHED AT DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY, BURNED FROM COCKPIT FORWARD. (-23) ON AUGUST 4, 1996, AT 1400, A AYERS S2R-G5 AIRCRAFT, N20GH, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY HOLLOWAY AIR SERVICE, INC., WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP NEAR START, LOUISIANA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 137 AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE TURBINE POWERED AIRCRAFT EXITED THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT BURNED FROM THE COCKPIT SECTION FORWARD. WITNESSES REPORTED THEY OBSERVED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.