What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Collided with the ground fatally injuring pilot. Investigation continuing. (.4)the recently restored antique airplane impacted trees on the bank of a river within a densely forested national forest while being ferried to the restorer for some last minute detailing prior to a sale. There were no witnesses, and initial notification came from a fellow pilot when the accident pilot failed to show up at a predetermined meeting place. Subsequent examination of aircraft components revealed the propeller was developing little power on impact with trees, and the fuel system contained water and corrosion contamination. (-23) on January 28, 1998, between 1130 & 1400 CST, a 1937 fairchild 24G, N16866, operating under CFR 91 by fred sorenson, cert #58631, collided with the ground fatally injuring the pilot. (F. sorenson) sorenson departed milton Florida at 1130.
As the FAA filed it
COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND FATALLY INJURING PILOT. INVESTIGATION CONTINUING. (.4)THE RECENTLY RESTORED ANTIQUE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES ON THE BANK OF A RIVER WITHIN A DENSELY FORESTED NATIONAL FOREST WHILE BEING FERRIED TO THE RESTORER FOR SOME LAST MINUTE DETAILING PRIOR TO A SALE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES, AND INITIAL NOTIFICATION CAME FROM A FELLOW PILOT WHEN THE ACCIDENT PILOT FAILED TO SHOW UP AT A PREDETERMINED MEETING PLACE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS REVEALED THE PROPELLER WAS DEVELOPING LITTLE POWER ON IMPACT WITH TREES, AND THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED WATER AND CORROSION CONTAMINATION. (-23) ON JANUARY 28, 1998, BETWEEN 1130 & 1400 CST, A 1937 FAIRCHILD 24G, N16866, OPERATING UNDER CFR 91 BY FRED SORENSON, CERT #58631, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT. (F. SORENSON) SORENSON DEPARTED MILTON FLORIDA AT 1130.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.