What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On take off from napolean airport, napolean, Michigan at 1600L on 07/18/98, aircraft number 54R, a Piper PA-28-140 lost power striking an antenna, fence and road sign, resulting in a brief ground fire and heavy aircraft damage. The take off was from a dry 2550' grass run way. The aircraft was flown under 14 CFR part 91 private pilot without a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The weather met visual meteorological conditions.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON TAKE OFF FROM NAPOLEAN AIRPORT, NAPOLEAN, MICHIGAN AT 1600L ON 07/18/98, AIRCRAFT NUMBER 54R, A PIPER PA-28-140 LOST POWER STRIKING AN ANTENNA, FENCE AND ROAD SIGN, RESULTING IN A BRIEF GROUND FIRE AND HEAVY AIRCRAFT DAMAGE. THE TAKE OFF WAS FROM A DRY 2550' GRASS RUN WAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 PRIVATE PILOT WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE WEATHER MET VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.