What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During test flight for engine installation after bottom end overhaul, the pilot reported rough running engine and then engine stopped. The aircraft collided with obstacles and the ground on a freeway in El Cajon, California, during an attempted forced landing. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence. The pilot/owner, the sole occupant sustained serious injuries. The aircraft fuel system was empty at the time of my arrival on the scene, because the aircraft ended up inverted, and the fire department had washed the area down to avoid possible problems.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING TEST FLIGHT FOR ENGINE INSTALLATION AFTER BOTTOM END OVERHAUL, THE PILOT REPORTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE AND THEN ENGINE STOPPED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH OBSTACLES AND THE GROUND ON A FREEWAY IN EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA, DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE COLLISION SEQUENCE. THE PILOT/OWNER, THE SOLE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME OF MY ARRIVAL ON THE SCENE, BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT ENDED UP INVERTED, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD WASHED THE AREA DOWN TO AVOID POSSIBLE PROBLEMS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.