What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The a/c departed Spirit of st. Louis airport (sus) on an IFR flight plan at approx. 0116 UTC on 12-12-99. At 0120 UTC the pilot reported to ATC of having a vacuum problem. The controller issued a heading change for the a/c to returne to sus. The last radio transmission received from the pilot was to acknowledge the heading change. The a/c impacted the ground in a residential area approx. 3-4 miles nw of the airport. A trail of a/c debris beginning approx. one third of a mile prior to the main impact site was discovered during this investigation. Evidence indicates a possible in flight break-up of the a/c prior to impact. Investigation continuing.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE A/C DEPARTED SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS AIRPORT (SUS) ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AT APPROX. 0116 UTC ON 12-12-99. AT 0120 UTC THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC OF HAVING A VACUUM PROBLEM. THE CONTROLLER ISSUED A HEADING CHANGE FOR THE A/C TO RETURNE TO SUS. THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT WAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEADING CHANGE. THE A/C IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA APPROX. 3-4 MILES NW OF THE AIRPORT. A TRAIL OF A/C DEBRIS BEGINNING APPROX. ONE THIRD OF A MILE PRIOR TO THE MAIN IMPACT SITE WAS DISCOVERED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION. EVIDENCE INDICATES A POSSIBLE IN FLIGHT BREAK-UP OF THE A/C PRIOR TO IMPACT. INVESTIGATION CONTINUING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.