What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Acft crashed under unknown circumstances shortly after take-off. The 2 POB suffered fatal injuries. The acft has substantial damage. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on February 6, 1999, at 1415 mountain standard time (MST), a Piper PA-18-150, N8075D, piloted by private pilot/mechanic, was destroyed on impact with terrain following a total loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip near Belle Fourche, south dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The local flight originated from the private airstrip at 1415. A witness estimated the height of the aircraft to be 500 feet to 700 feet above ground level when the "engine stopped." There were no unusual engine sounds noted by the witness. Visual observation of the accident site revealed no ground scarring to be present in the area around the resting position of the aircraft. (-23) IA will be reexamined on proper "return to service" and logbook entry procedures.
As the FAA filed it
ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF. THE 2 POB SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. THE ACFT HAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (.19) ON FEBRUARY 6, 1999, AT 1415 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST), A PIPER PA-18-150, N8075D, PILOTED BY PRIVATE PILOT/MECHANIC, WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BELLE FOURCHE, SOUTH DAKOTA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT 1415. A WITNESS ESTIMATED THE HEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BE 500 FEET TO 700 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE "ENGINE STOPPED." THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL ENGINE SOUNDS NOTED BY THE WITNESS. VISUAL OBSERVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED NO GROUND SCARRING TO BE PRESENT IN THE AREA AROUND THE RESTING POSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT. (-23) IA WILL BE REEXAMINED ON PROPER "RETURN TO SERVICE" AND LOGBOOK ENTRY PROCEDURES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.