What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A/c was found in the river on the north end of runway 34-IT is not known at this time if the accident occurred after takeoff or prior to landing. It is also unknown at this time if the pilot turned the fuel selector valve to "off", causing the engine to fail or if it was turned off by the rescuers. Fuel was found in both wing fuel tanks, however, only a "few teaspoons" were in the carburetor. The pilot is in intensive care and has not yet been interviewed. His interview is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 1999.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A/C WAS FOUND IN THE RIVER ON THE NORTH END OF RUNWAY 34-IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TAKEOFF OR PRIOR TO LANDING. IT IS ALSO UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE PILOT TURNED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TO "OFF", CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL OR IF IT WAS TURNED OFF BY THE RESCUERS. FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH WING FUEL TANKS, HOWEVER, ONLY A "FEW TEASPOONS" WERE IN THE CARBURETOR. THE PILOT IS IN INTENSIVE CARE AND HAS NOT YET BEEN INTERVIEWED. HIS INTERVIEW IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1999.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.