What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 6, 2000, at 1100 MST, an amature built spitfire/raven, N17ST collided with terrain 1 mile south of Coronado Airport in Albuquerque, new Mexico, while on a pleasure flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the uncertificated pilot was seriously injured. (.4)during the approach, a witness observed the experimental aircraft 'make a right turn from the downwind leg to base leg when it appeared to stall.' Subsequently, the aircraft 'pitched nose down into a steep angle all the way to impact.' The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, did not find any evidence of mechanical discrepancies that would have prevented airframe or engine operation prior to the impact. The non-certificated pilot's injuries precluded his submission of data during the investigation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 6, 2000, AT 1100 MST, AN AMATURE BUILT SPITFIRE/RAVEN, N17ST COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN 1 MILE SOUTH OF CORONADO AIRPORT IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE UNCERTIFICATED PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. (.4)DURING THE APPROACH, A WITNESS OBSERVED THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT 'MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE DOWNWIND LEG TO BASE LEG WHEN IT APPEARED TO STALL.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT 'PITCHED NOSE DOWN INTO A STEEP ANGLE ALL THE WAY TO IMPACT.' THE FAA INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE SITE, DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED AIRFRAME OR ENGINE OPERATION PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT'S INJURIES PRECLUDED HIS SUBMISSION OF DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.