What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) The weather reported at sioux falls, south dakota, fifteen miles from the takeoff airport was IFR with freezing fog with 1/4 mile visibility and 100 feet vertical visibility, with the temperature at -8 degrees and the dew point at -8 degrees. A witness who lived at the departure airport reported she saw the aircraft start its takeoff roll. She reported that she could not believe the airplane was actually departing because of the dense fog. The airplane impacted the ground about one half mile east from the departure end of runway 18. The flight controls and engine exhibited continuity. All cylinders had compression. The propeller exhibited rotational scoring and twisting. The pilot did not have an instrument rating.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) THE WEATHER REPORTED AT SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, FIFTEEN MILES FROM THE TAKEOFF AIRPORT WAS IFR WITH FREEZING FOG WITH 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY AND 100 FEET VERTICAL VISIBILITY, WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT -8 DEGREES AND THE DEW POINT AT -8 DEGREES. A WITNESS WHO LIVED AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT REPORTED SHE SAW THE AIRCRAFT START ITS TAKEOFF ROLL. SHE REPORTED THAT SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE AIRPLANE WAS ACTUALLY DEPARTING BECAUSE OF THE DENSE FOG. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT ONE HALF MILE EAST FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 18. THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND ENGINE EXHIBITED CONTINUITY. ALL CYLINDERS HAD COMPRESSION. THE PROPELLER EXHIBITED ROTATIONAL SCORING AND TWISTING. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT RATING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.