What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19)On June 8, 2001, at 1620 eastern daylight time, a torno micro mong, N426RT, piloted by a Private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with the terrain, following a loss of engine power during initial climb from runway 27 (2,300 feet by 100 feet, dry/grass) at the air rahe ultralight park, Petersburg, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident. According to witnesses, the aircraft departed on a westerly heading and experienced a loss of engine power approximately 70-feet above ground level (AGL). The witnesses reported that after the loss of engine power, the aircraft entered a left banking turn, subsequently striking the terrain. (-23) Mr. Torno took off runway 27 and at about 70 feet AGL witness stated he heard a reduction in power. The witness also reported that the pilot made a left turn to try and return to the runway. He lost flying speed and hit the ground in a nose down attitude. The aircraft did not slide after impact. Injuries were critical. Investigation of the engine revealed that the number one cylinder (front cylinder) had a hole in the piston, resulting in a significant loss of power, that contributed to the crash.
As the FAA filed it
(.19)ON JUNE 8, 2001, AT 1620 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A TORNO MICRO MONG, N426RT, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 27 (2,300 FEET BY 100 FEET, DRY/GRASS) AT THE AIR RAHE ULTRALIGHT PARK, PETERSBURG, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AND WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE LOCAL FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A WESTERLY HEADING AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER APPROXIMATELY 70-FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A LEFT BANKING TURN, SUBSEQUENTLY STRIKING THE TERRAIN. (-23) MR. TORNO TOOK OFF RUNWAY 27 AND AT ABOUT 70 FEET AGL WITNESS STATED HE HEARD A REDUCTION IN POWER. THE WITNESS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN TO TRY AND RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. HE LOST FLYING SPEED AND HIT THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT SLIDE AFTER IMPACT. INJURIES WERE CRITICAL. INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER (FRONT CYLINDER) HAD A HOLE IN THE PISTON, RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER, THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.