What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Departure was from a private airstrip. Windsock indicated wind to be about 8 knots from the south. Shortly after takeoff the engine started running rough and lost power. Pilot stated he decided to return to the strip rather than go into the trees at the end. Aircraft impacted the surface and sustained substantial damage. Right wing was separated from the fuselage. Both fuel tanks were intact. Left tank was about 2/3 full and right tank had drained down due to separation. Fuel selector indicated right tank selection. Carburetor was broken from flange. Exhaust cone in place and intact. Fuel selector valve examined and found right port and outlet about 1/3 occluded. Plastic cone ears broken for counter clockwise rotation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DEPARTURE WAS FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. WINDSOCK INDICATED WIND TO BE ABOUT 8 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND LOST POWER. PILOT STATED HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE STRIP RATHER THAN GO INTO THE TREES AT THE END. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE SURFACE AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. RIGHT WING WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT. LEFT TANK WAS ABOUT 2/3 FULL AND RIGHT TANK HAD DRAINED DOWN DUE TO SEPARATION. FUEL SELECTOR INDICATED RIGHT TANK SELECTION. CARBURETOR WAS BROKEN FROM FLANGE. EXHAUST CONE IN PLACE AND INTACT. FUEL SELECTOR VALVE EXAMINED AND FOUND RIGHT PORT AND OUTLET ABOUT 1/3 OCCLUDED. PLASTIC CONE EARS BROKEN FOR COUNTER CLOCKWISE ROTATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.