What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The aircraft departed runway 18 at Ankeny, Iowa, at approximately 1320 local time. There were two passengers onboard the aircraft. Witnesses stated the aircraft began a left turn at approximately 150 to 300 feet in the air and continued to turn until the aircraft impacted the ground. Shortly after the accident occurred the aircraft was engulfed in flames, resulting in the death of the pilot. Witness statements indicated the engine noise changed after liftoff, however the witness stated the engine appeared to be operating normally at the time the aircraft impacted the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 18 AT ANKENY, IOWA, AT APPROXIMATELY 1320 LOCAL TIME. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 300 FEET IN THE AIR AND CONTINUED TO TURN UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THE PILOT. WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATED THE ENGINE NOISE CHANGED AFTER LIFTOFF, HOWEVER THE WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.