What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On June 23, 2002, at approximately 1730 central daylight time, a lidster, wittman W-8 tailwind, experimental homebuilt airplane, N14VK, was destroyed when it struck trees and terrain near Mesquite, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the builder/pilot under code of federal regulations part 91. The private pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed the Mesquite metro airport less than five minutes before the fatal accident. The aircraft was found resting nose down in the terrain at the base of 30-foot trees. The engine was found in a crater near the main wreckage. The outboard 2 feet of the left wing with the left wing spar was found approximately 300 yards from the main wreckage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JUNE 23, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 1730 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A LIDSTER, WITTMAN W-8 TAILWIND, EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE, N14VK, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT STRUCK TREES AND TERRAIN NEAR MESQUITE, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE BUILDER/PILOT UNDER CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED THE MESQUITE METRO AIRPORT LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE FATAL ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND RESTING NOSE DOWN IN THE TERRAIN AT THE BASE OF 30-FOOT TREES. THE ENGINE WAS FOUND IN A CRATER NEAR THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE OUTBOARD 2 FEET OF THE LEFT WING WITH THE LEFT WING SPAR WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.