What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) According to witnesses Mr. Haugen was conducting taxi testing in aircraft. Had performed a number of highspeed taxis with one resulting in departure from end of runway into grass. Witnesses speculated that on a later taxi test a gust of wind resulted in Mr. Haugen going airborne off runway 34. Statements relate that he climbed, turned right towards prison to northeast, then hovered in place for perhaps 15 to 20 seconds before descending in flat attitude into ground. Witnesses stated that after impact aircraft skidded for perhaps 100 yards before coming to rest in open area 1/4 mile NE and adjacent to runway. Pilot fatally injured. Aircraft cut into pieces and moved before FSDO arrival at scene. Evidence contaminated.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ACCORDING TO WITNESSES MR. HAUGEN WAS CONDUCTING TAXI TESTING IN AIRCRAFT. HAD PERFORMED A NUMBER OF HIGHSPEED TAXIS WITH ONE RESULTING IN DEPARTURE FROM END OF RUNWAY INTO GRASS. WITNESSES SPECULATED THAT ON A LATER TAXI TEST A GUST OF WIND RESULTED IN MR. HAUGEN GOING AIRBORNE OFF RUNWAY 34. STATEMENTS RELATE THAT HE CLIMBED, TURNED RIGHT TOWARDS PRISON TO NORTHEAST, THEN HOVERED IN PLACE FOR PERHAPS 15 TO 20 SECONDS BEFORE DESCENDING IN FLAT ATTITUDE INTO GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER IMPACT AIRCRAFT SKIDDED FOR PERHAPS 100 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO REST IN OPEN AREA 1/4 MILE NE AND ADJACENT TO RUNWAY. PILOT FATALLY INJURED. AIRCRAFT CUT INTO PIECES AND MOVED BEFORE FSDO ARRIVAL AT SCENE. EVIDENCE CONTAMINATED.