What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft crashed after takeoff from a private strip onto highway. (-23) pilot said he became distracted by cowling door left open on takeoff. Attempted to turn back to airport. Was fixating on open door when he made a steep turn to return to airport. He believes the aircraft stalled before crashing on the highway. Pilot initially stated the aircraft kept losing altitude and might have run out of fuel. Fuel manifest indicated pilot purchased 26 gal. Of auto fuel on day of accident. Did not have STC for auto fuel. According to IA annual was performed on 09-05-96, a/c was not out of fuel.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP ONTO HIGHWAY. (-23) PILOT SAID HE BECAME DISTRACTED BY COWLING DOOR LEFT OPEN ON TAKEOFF. ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO AIRPORT. WAS FIXATING ON OPEN DOOR WHEN HE MADE A STEEP TURN TO RETURN TO AIRPORT. HE BELIEVES THE AIRCRAFT STALLED BEFORE CRASHING ON THE HIGHWAY. PILOT INITIALLY STATED THE AIRCRAFT KEPT LOSING ALTITUDE AND MIGHT HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL. FUEL MANIFEST INDICATED PILOT PURCHASED 26 GAL. OF AUTO FUEL ON DAY OF ACCIDENT. DID NOT HAVE STC FOR AUTO FUEL. ACCORDING TO IA ANNUAL WAS PERFORMED ON 09-05-96, A/C WAS NOT OUT OF FUEL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.