What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Near vertical impact. Ownr builer had made unsafe swa cut in right wing. Pilot jumped prior impact. Wing failed. (-23) the fatal accident of john woodrow culp in his KR2 aircraft, N9097E, occurred on Sunday, September 21, 1997, at approximately 0930 local (1330Z). The aircraft was found 1/4 miles northeast of the Greenwood County Airport (kgrd), SC, in a heavily wooded, hilly area. The pilot, john culp, was found nearly 150 feet behind the aircraft wreckage. Mr. Culp departed the aircraft prior to the aircraft impacting the ground. (He was not part of the aircraft debris). The aircraft hit the ground at an approximate 60 degree angle, nose down, on a heading of 170 degrees. The aircraft struck the earth with great force scattering its debris about a 50-feet radius. The scattered parts were barely recognizable as parts of the aircraft. No fuel was present. The aircraft did not burn. The cause of the accident has not been determined, and the investigation continues.
As the FAA filed it
NEAR VERTICAL IMPACT. OWNR BUILER HAD MADE UNSAFE SWA CUT IN RIGHT WING. PILOT JUMPED PRIOR IMPACT. WING FAILED. (-23) THE FATAL ACCIDENT OF JOHN WOODROW CULP IN HIS KR2 AIRCRAFT, N9097E, OCCURRED ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1997, AT APPROXIMATELY 0930 LOCAL (1330Z). THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND 1/4 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE GREENWOOD COUNTY AIRPORT (KGRD), SC, IN A HEAVILY WOODED, HILLY AREA. THE PILOT, JOHN CULP, WAS FOUND NEARLY 150 FEET BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE. MR. CULP DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING THE GROUND. (HE WAS NOT PART OF THE AIRCRAFT DEBRIS). THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND AT AN APPROXIMATE 60 DEGREE ANGLE, NOSE DOWN, ON A HEADING OF 170 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE EARTH WITH GREAT FORCE SCATTERING ITS DEBRIS ABOUT A 50-FEET RADIUS. THE SCATTERED PARTS WERE BARELY RECOGNIZABLE AS PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT. NO FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT BURN. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, AND THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.