What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 8, 2000 at about 1340 hours, adt, a wheel equipped CE-180, N2347C, sustained substantial damage when it hit a tree during takeoff from the Sterling airpark airport and landed off the airport. The ATP pilot/owner and one other passenger were not injured. The weather was VFR with a light wind on the ground. The pilot stated that she decided to takeoff with a very slight downwind because the trees were lower in the takeoff direction. The pilot also stated that just after liftoff, turbulence and a down draft were experienced. The aircraft hit some small trees and then landed in the trees.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2000 AT ABOUT 1340 HOURS, ADT, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CE-180, N2347C, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT HIT A TREE DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE STERLING AIRPARK AIRPORT AND LANDED OFF THE AIRPORT. THE ATP PILOT/OWNER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE WEATHER WAS VFR WITH A LIGHT WIND ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF WITH A VERY SLIGHT DOWNWIND BECAUSE THE TREES WERE LOWER IN THE TAKEOFF DIRECTION. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, TURBULENCE AND A DOWN DRAFT WERE EXPERIENCED. THE AIRCRAFT HIT SOME SMALL TREES AND THEN LANDED IN THE TREES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.