What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) privacy data omitted on August 6, 2002 the pilot of N4122E was overflying a gravel bar checking the suitability for landing. While the pilot was low flying the strip the left wingtip struck some willows which caused the aircraft to veer to the left. When the pilot corrected with a right turn while climbing out, the aircraft entered the trees to the right side of the gravel bar until the aircraft exited the trees and impacted the ground. The pilot stated he changed his plan half way through the process. The pilot attempted to fly down the left side of the runway to check the terrain which was not in the original plan.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITT^ ON AUGUST 6, 2002 THE PILOT OF N4122E WAS OVERFLYING A GRAVEL BAR CHECKING THE SUITABILITY FOR LANDING. WHILE THE PILOT WAS LOW FLYING THE STRIP THE LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK SOME WILLOWS WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH A RIGHT TURN WHILE CLIMBING OUT, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE TREES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GRAVEL BAR UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE CHANGED HIS PLAN HALF WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO CHECK THE TERRAIN WHICH WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.