What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Right horizontal stablizier failed in flight homebuilt had aerobatic inverted fuel system. (-23) on September 17, 1996, at approximately 1335 EST, a RV-4, N952JT, registered to Mr. John s. thocker and Mr. Dale m. dimmich, crashed into a bean field located 10 nautical miles northwest of Muncie, Indiana, while on a pleasure flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and there was no flight plan filed. The aircraft was totally destroyed in the crash. Both the pilot and the passenger received fatal injuries. The flight originated at the Muncie airport, Muncie, Indiana on September 17, 1996, at approximately 1315 EST.
As the FAA filed it
RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABLIZIER FAILED IN FLIGHT HOMEBUILT HAD AEROBATIC INVERTED FUEL SYSTEM. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1996, AT APPROXIMATELY 1335 EST, A RV-4, N952JT, REGISTERED TO MR. JOHN S. THOCKER AND MR. DALE M. DIMMICH, CRASHED INTO A BEAN FIELD LOCATED 10 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF MUNCIE, INDIANA, WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN THE CRASH. BOTH THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE MUNCIE AIRPORT, MUNCIE, INDIANA ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1996, AT APPROXIMATELY 1315 EST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.