What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 8, 2000 at 1343 CDT, an Aeronca 7AC, N84424, operated by private pilot, michael mellak, wes destroyed on impact with terrain and the post accident fire following a takeoff from a private grass airstrip near the city of Embarrass, MN. The personal flight was conducted in VMC and under 14 CFR part 91, winds at 260 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 19 knots were reported on the eveleth-virginia municipal airport AWOS during the time of the accident. No pilot or a/c logs were available, nor found, during the conduct of the investigaion leaving the a/c and pilot currency elements unknown at the time of this report.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 8, 2000 AT 1343 CDT, AN AERONCA 7AC, N84424, OPERATED BY PRIVATE PILOT, MICHAEL MELLAK, WES DESTROYED ON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AND THE POST ACCIDENT FIRE FOLLOWING A TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP NEAR THE CITY OF EMBARRASS, MN. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN VMC AND UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, WINDS AT 260 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 19 KNOTS WERE REPORTED ON THE EVELETH-VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AWOS DURING THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO PILOT OR A/C LOGS WERE AVAILABLE, NOR FOUND, DURING THE CONDUCT OF THE INVESTIGAION LEAVING THE A/C AND PILOT CURRENCY ELEMENTS UNKNOWN AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.