What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 27, 1999, Mr. John biolchini private pilot certificate 348349923, was identified as pilot-in-command of N5747U, a PA-20-140, when due to unknown reasons it crashed in the Mississippi river near Clinton, Iowa. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and the pilot received fatal injuries. The weather at the time of the crash was IFR to MVFR. Weather briefings received by Mr. Biolchini indicated the weather to be IFR and remain IFR for the second half of his planned trip. Mr. Biolchini was not an instrument rated pilot. NTSB found no apparent problems with the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1999, MR. JOHN BIOLCHINI PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE 348349923, WAS IDENTIFIED AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N5747U, A PA-20-140, WHEN DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS IT CRASHED IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR CLINTON, IOWA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT AND THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WAS IFR TO MVFR. WEATHER BRIEFINGS RECEIVED BY MR. BIOLCHINI INDICATED THE WEATHER TO BE IFR AND REMAIN IFR FOR THE SECOND HALF OF HIS PLANNED TRIP. MR. BIOLCHINI WAS NOT AN INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. NTSB FOUND NO APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.