What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft departed graham, TX. On 12/13/02 @ 1630 local with full tanks except right wingtip tank. Flight around tca enroute to shreveport, LA. Departed shreveport 12/14/02 @ 0030, experienced sputtering engine appr. 9 miles east of graham, tried switching tanks, engine quit, descended to open field and landed. Pilot reported that fuel gauges indicated 1/2 full on rt and lt mains. Aircraft landed, nose gear separated, 90 feet later rt wing separated cleanly from fuselage, 180 feet fuselage stopped. Left wing damaged, props bent, all three gear detached. ELT transmitted and was disconnected by FAA iic. Medical certificate: 02/02/01, me #19904; pilot certificate: 12/23/01, private sel.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GRAHAM, TX. ON 12/13/02 @ 1630 LOCAL WITH FULL TANKS EXCEPT RIGHT WINGTIP TANK. FLIGHT AROUND TCA ENROUTE TO SHREVEPORT, LA. DEPARTED SHREVEPORT 12/14/02 @ 0030, EXPERIENCED SPUTTERING ENGINE APPR. 9 MILES EAST OF GRAHAM, TRIED SWITCHING TANKS, ENGINE QUIT, DESCENDED TO OPEN FIELD AND LANDED. PILOT REPORTED THAT FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 1/2 FULL ON RT AND LT MAINS. AIRCRAFT LANDED, NOSE GEAR SEPARATED, 90 FEET LATER RT WING SEPARATED CLEANLY FROM FUSELAGE, 180 FEET FUSELAGE STOPPED. LEFT WING DAMAGED, PROPS BENT, ALL THREE GEAR DETACHED. ELT TRANSMITTED AND WAS DISCONNECTED BY FAA IIC. MEDICAL CERTIFICATE: 02/02/01, ME #19904; PILOT CERTIFICATE: 12/23/01, PRIVATE SEL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.