What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.23) At approx. 1200 on 4/2/00, Mr. Michael cralle was the pilot in command of N9055T, a Cessna 182. Mr. Cralle was conducting aerial pipeline patrol near Brownfield, TX. For American patrols, inc., when he spotted what appeared to be an oil leak. Mr. Cralle was trying to get the attention of two oil field workers who were in a nearby oil field. According to the two witnesses, the a/c was in a steep left hand bank (they stated approx. 90 degree) when it struck the ground approx. 300 ft from their position. They stated the a/c started out high in the turn, approx. 500 ft, when in the turn it began losing altitude until striking the ground. Mr. Cralle suffered minor injuries during the accident. Mr. Cralle does not remember the moments prior to the accident.
As the FAA filed it
(.23) AT APPROX. 1200 ON 4/2/00, MR. MICHAEL CRALLE WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N9055T, A CESSNA 182. MR. CRALLE WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL PIPELINE PATROL NEAR BROWNFIELD, TX. FOR AMERICAN PATROLS, INC., WHEN HE SPOTTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN OIL LEAK. MR. CRALLE WAS TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF TWO OIL FIELD WORKERS WHO WERE IN A NEARBY OIL FIELD. ACCORDING TO THE TWO WITNESSES, THE A/C WAS IN A STEEP LEFT HAND BANK (THEY STATED APPROX. 90 DEGREE) WHEN IT STRUCK THE GROUND APPROX. 300 FT FROM THEIR POSITION. THEY STATED THE A/C STARTED OUT HIGH IN THE TURN, APPROX. 500 FT, WHEN IN THE TURN IT BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE UNTIL STRIKING THE GROUND. MR. CRALLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE ACCIDENT. MR. CRALLE DOES NOT REMEMBER THE MOMENTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.