What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A fairchild-24-G, N4714, piloted by Mr. Ronald g. hanks, landed at Cascade Locks, Oregon to wait for weather to move through. After a four hour wait N4717 taxied out for departure. Mr. Hanks said he completed a normal runup, pre-takeoff check, and departed. On the climb out at approximately 80 feet AGL the aircraft began to lose power. Since the aircraft was over the columbia river, Mr. Hanks elected to make a right turn back towards the airport. About half way through the turn, the aircraft experienced a total power loss. The aircraft contacted the river and sank. Mr. Hanks and his passenger were able to escape from the left window and swim towards shore, the were picked up by someone in a boat. The aircraft recovered by hlm air service, independence, OR.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A FAIRCHILD-24-G, N4714, PILOTED BY MR. RONALD G. HANKS, LANDED AT CASCADE LOCKS, OREGON TO WAIT FOR WEATHER TO MOVE THROUGH. AFTER A FOUR HOUR WAIT N4717 TAXIED OUT FOR DEPARTURE. MR. HANKS SAID HE COMPLETED A NORMAL RUNUP, PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK, AND DEPARTED. ON THE CLIMB OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET AGL THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. SINCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE COLUMBIA RIVER, MR. HANKS ELECTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE RIVER AND SANK. MR. HANKS AND HIS PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE LEFT WINDOW AND SWIM TOWARDS SHORE, THE WERE PICKED UP BY SOMEONE IN A BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT RECOVERED BY HLM AIR SERVICE, INDEPENDENCE, OR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.