What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Acft is believed to have been stolen and crashed on return to the arpt. (-23) aircraft was stolen from hangar by a person or persons unknown and directional control was lost during attempted takeoff. (.4) the airplane was discovered at 0710 CDT, on the Scribner State airfield, Scribner, Nebraska, by the owner, after the accident took place. The airplane's owner estimated that the total distance the airplane traveled was 40 yards. The owner stated that the unknown person operating the airplane 'probably lost control when [the] tailwheel left the runway. Excessive takeoff trim was set, [thus the] tail may have lifted off prematurely.' The pilot fled the accident site and was never identified. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies.
As the FAA filed it
ACFT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN AND CRASHED ON RETURN TO THE ARPT. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS STOLEN FROM HANGAR BY A PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DURING ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. (.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS DISCOVERED AT 0710 CDT, ON THE SCRIBNER STATE AIRFIELD, SCRIBNER, NEBRASKA, BY THE OWNER, AFTER THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THE AIRPLANE'S OWNER ESTIMATED THAT THE TOTAL DISTANCE THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED WAS 40 YARDS. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE UNKNOWN PERSON OPERATING THE AIRPLANE 'PROBABLY LOST CONTROL WHEN [THE] TAILWHEEL LEFT THE RUNWAY. EXCESSIVE TAKEOFF TRIM WAS SET, [THUS THE] TAIL MAY HAVE LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY.' THE PILOT FLED THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.