What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Continental flight 1416 experienced an un-commanded auto pilot descent at FL330 25NM sw of South Bend regional airport. Flight crew experienced difficulity in using flight controls and trim to control aircraft descent. Captain asked ATC for closest suitable airport to land asap. ATC directed a/c to south bedn. A/c landed safely without further incident, I talked with privacy data omitted, Continental director of safety on 2-28-00. He stated that auto pilot components were removed from a/c and sent to factory to be checked. He stated that nothing could be found in auto pilot or trim system to cause malfunction.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)CONTINENTAL FLIGHT 1416 EXPERIENCED AN UN-COMMANDED AUTO PILOT DESCENT AT FL330 25NM SW OF SOUTH BEND REGIONAL AIRPORT. FLIGHT CREW EXPERIENCED DIFFICULITY IN USING FLIGHT CONTROLS AND TRIM TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT DESCENT. CAPTAIN ASKED ATC FOR CLOSEST SUITABLE AIRPORT TO LAND ASAP. ATC DIRECTED A/C TO SOUTH BEDN. A/C LANDED SAFELY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, I TALKED WITH ^PRIVACY DATA^, CONTINENTAL DIRECTOR OF SAFETY ON 2-28-00. HE STATED THAT AUTO PILOT COMPONENTS WERE REMOVED FROM A/C AND SENT TO FACTORY TO BE CHECKED. HE STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND IN AUTO PILOT OR TRIM SYSTEM TO CAUSE MALFUNCTION.