What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Lost power on climbout. Settled into trees. Carb choke on. Overlooked in preflight. (-23) the PIC reported a loss of climb power at 200', dropped the nose to prevent a stall and subsequently hit a tree, while looking for a clearing to land. No mechanical failures were discovered. The aircraft was 50 lbs under max gross takeoff weight. The PIC, who is also the builder, was counselled about aircraft's inability to meet performance data.
As the FAA filed it
LOST POWER ON CLIMBOUT. SETTLED INTO TREES. CARB CHOKE ON. OVERLOOKED IN PREFLIGHT. (-23) THE PIC REPORTED A LOSS OF CLIMB POWER AT 200', DROPPED THE NOSE TO PREVENT A STALL AND SUBSEQUENTLY HIT A TREE, WHILE LOOKING FOR A CLEARING TO LAND. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE DISCOVERED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 50 LBS UNDER MAX GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT. THE PIC, WHO IS ALSO THE BUILDER, WAS COUNSELLED ABOUT AIRCRAFT'S INABILITY TO MEET PERFORMANCE DATA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.