What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft departed gainesville at 12:30 am on January 13, 2002 for Williston airport. Weather at time of departure was 4 statute miles, rain/mist, ceiling broken at one thousand three hundred, broken four thousand two hundred, overcast seven thousand, dewpoint one five, altimeter two niner eight five. Weather 20 minuits later; visibility five statute miles, light rain mist, scattered one thousand, broken one thousand three hundred, overcast three thousand six hundred. Aircraft struck a pine tree at right wing root in level flight causing right wing to separate from aircraft. Aircraft traveled approximately 150 feet and struck an oak tree with engine and propeller causing engine and propeller to separate from aircraft. Aircraft continued forward for another 150 feet coming to rest with tail section twisted around to front of fuselage. Total distance from initial impact to wreckage approximately 300 feet. Aircraft sustained post accident fire. Debris from aircraft scattered entire length of path between point and final resting location.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GAINESVILLE AT 12:30 AM ON JANUARY 13, 2002 FOR WILLISTON AIRPORT. WEATHER AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 4 STATUTE MILES, RAIN/MIST, CEILING BROKEN AT ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED, BROKEN FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED, OVERCAST SEVEN THOUSAND, DEWPOINT ONE FIVE, ALTIMETER TWO NINER EIGHT FIVE. WEATHER 20 MINUITS LATER; VISIBILITY FIVE STATUTE MILES, LIGHT RAIN MIST, SCATTERED ONE THOUSAND, BROKEN ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED, OVERCAST THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED. AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PINE TREE AT RIGHT WING ROOT IN LEVEL FLIGHT CAUSING RIGHT WING TO SEPARATE FROM AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AND STRUCK AN OAK TREE WITH ENGINE AND PROPELLER CAUSING ENGINE AND PROPELLER TO SEPARATE FROM AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FORWARD FOR ANOTHER 150 FEET COMING TO REST WITH TAIL SECTION TWISTED AROUND TO FRONT OF FUSELAGE. TOTAL DISTANCE FROM INITIAL IMPACT TO WRECKAGE APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED POST ACCIDENT FIRE. DEBRIS FROM AIRCRAFT SCATTERED ENTIRE LENGTH OF PATH BETWEEN POINT AND FINAL RESTING LOCATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N8263P · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.