What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 13, 2001 at about 10:45 am., Mr. Pursell along with his 13 year old son departed the Kotzebue airport under a special VFR clearance for deering, Alaska. After departing from runway 17, Mr. Pursell proceeded south bound. At about 10:46 am. Mr. Pursell's aircraft collided with a 330 foot radio tower, 4.3 miles to the south of the Kotzebue airport. The aircraft struck the radio tower 58 feet below the top of the radio tower. The pilot Mr. Pursell was fatally injured, his son was seriously injured, and the aircraft was destroyed. Mr. Pursell contacted otz-fss at about 10:36 am, for airport advisorys. Mr. Pursell was advised by the Kotzebue FAA flight service station, that VFR was not recommended. Mr. Pursell filed a VFR flight pland and departed under a special VFR clearance.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 13, 2001 AT ABOUT 10:45 AM., MR. PURSELL ALONG WITH HIS 13 YEAR OLD SON DEPARTED THE KOTZEBUE AIRPORT UNDER A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE FOR DEERING, ALASKA. AFTER DEPARTING FROM RUNWAY 17, MR. PURSELL PROCEEDED SOUTH BOUND. AT ABOUT 10:46 AM. MR. PURSELL'S AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A 330 FOOT RADIO TOWER, 4.3 MILES TO THE SOUTH OF THE KOTZEBUE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RADIO TOWER 58 FEET BELOW THE TOP OF THE RADIO TOWER. THE PILOT MR. PURSELL WAS FATALLY INJURED, HIS SON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. MR. PURSELL CONTACTED OTZ-FSS AT ABOUT 10:36 AM, FOR AIRPORT ADVISORYS. MR. PURSELL WAS ADVISED BY THE KOTZEBUE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION, THAT VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. MR. PURSELL FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAND AND DEPARTED UNDER A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.