What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Experienced engine problems on takeoff, did a 180 degree turn to return, crashed short of airport in a field. (-23) pilot took off out of a private field at eagles Nest (STS6) approximately 0800 CST, pilot experience engine sputtering upon climb out. Engine lost power as pilot attempted ato return to airfield. Pilot made an emergency landing in a field approximately 1 mile east of runway. The aircraft impacted the ground and had torn off the landing gear, bent the propeller and caused substantial damage to the flaps and ailerons. The pilot received no apparent injuries but the only passenger (the pilot's wife) received one minor stitch in her lip.
As the FAA filed it
EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS ON TAKEOFF, DID A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN, CRASHED SHORT OF AIRPORT IN A FIELD. (-23) PILOT TOOK OFF OUT OF A PRIVATE FIELD AT EAGLES NEST (STS6) APPROXIMATELY 0800 CST, PILOT EXPERIENCE ENGINE SPUTTERING UPON CLIMB OUT. ENGINE LOST POWER AS PILOT ATTEMPTED ATO RETURN TO AIRFIELD. PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE EAST OF RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND HAD TORN OFF THE LANDING GEAR, BENT THE PROPELLER AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FLAPS AND AILERONS. THE PILOT RECEIVED NO APPARENT INJURIES BUT THE ONLY PASSENGER (THE PILOT'S WIFE) RECEIVED ONE MINOR STITCH IN HER LIP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.