What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 2/4/00, pilot martin eugene wright, certificate #451154784 and passenger, departed aero country (TX05) in a Piper PA28-180, N6506J on a FAR 91 VFR flight in VMC conditions. Accoring to witnesses, the passenger telephoned their local place of employment and told them they would fly over. At the place of employment co-workers were gathered outside to watch the fly over. Witnesses stated the pilot made a very low pass and struck the trees. Investigation indicates several trees were struck along the flight path and the flight terminated when the a/c impacted a railroad tressle. There was no post crash fire. The a/c was demolished. Both occupants sustained fatal injury.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 2/4/00, PILOT MARTIN EUGENE WRIGHT, CERTIFICATE #451154784 AND PASSENGER, DEPARTED AERO COUNTRY (TX05) IN A PIPER PA28-180, N6506J ON A FAR 91 VFR FLIGHT IN VMC CONDITIONS. ACCORING TO WITNESSES, THE PASSENGER TELEPHONED THEIR LOCAL PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND TOLD THEM THEY WOULD FLY OVER. AT THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT CO-WORKERS WERE GATHERED OUTSIDE TO WATCH THE FLY OVER. WITNESSES STATED THE PILOT MADE A VERY LOW PASS AND STRUCK THE TREES. INVESTIGATION INDICATES SEVERAL TREES WERE STRUCK ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH AND THE FLIGHT TERMINATED WHEN THE A/C IMPACTED A RAILROAD TRESSLE. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE A/C WAS DEMOLISHED. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.