What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was conducting aerial surveillance of creek bed at low altitude and airspeed. Following creek bed the pilot turned the a/c into an easterly direction. Wind reported at tyler airport was 32007. Once in a downwind condition pilot experienced a settling condition and reported a loss of power. Once tree impact was imminent pilot attempted to maintain a/c in a level attitude as it settled through the tree tops and fell approx. 40-50 feet. A/c landed on left side. Passenger sustained shoulder and arm injuries. A/c was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL SURVEILLANCE OF CREEK BED AT LOW ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. FOLLOWING CREEK BED THE PILOT TURNED THE A/C INTO AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. WIND REPORTED AT TYLER AIRPORT WAS 32007. ONCE IN A DOWNWIND CONDITION PILOT EXPERIENCED A SETTLING CONDITION AND REPORTED A LOSS OF POWER. ONCE TREE IMPACT WAS IMMINENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN A/C IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE AS IT SETTLED THROUGH THE TREE TOPS AND FELL APPROX. 40-50 FEET. A/C LANDED ON LEFT SIDE. PASSENGER SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND ARM INJURIES. A/C WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.