What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft departed Harriet Alexander field (0V2) with partial fuel load, 1 pax, and cargo at 0640 on 09/04/02. Weather breifing obtained from telephone information briefing system. Enroute climb was normal. Aircraft engine performance was normal during takeoff and climb. After obtaining an altitude of 12,050 feet, a sudden downdraft carried the aircraft through an altitude loss of 300 feet, resulting in an impact with trees and terrain. The aircraft came to rest on its left side on a heading of 120 degrees magnetic, at 0655 local time. The pilot suffered fatal head injuries and the passenger escaped with serious injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED HARRIET ALEXANDER FIELD (0V2) WITH PARTIAL FUEL LOAD, 1 PAX, AND CARGO AT 0640 ON 09/04/02. WEATHER BREIFING OBTAINED FROM TELEPHONE INFORMATION BRIEFING SYSTEM. ENROUTE CLIMB WAS NORMAL. AIRCRAFT ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS NORMAL DURING TAKEOFF AND CLIMB. AFTER OBTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 12,050 FEET, A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT CARRIED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH AN ALTITUDE LOSS OF 300 FEET, RESULTING IN AN IMPACT WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE ON A HEADING OF 120 DEGREES MAGNETIC, AT 0655 LOCAL TIME. THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL HEAD INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.