What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft lost power after turning base 200 yards from runway. Passenger reported pilot pushed the throttle in several times without any response. Aircraft was not able to descent and landed in a pond south of runway. Aircraft flipped inverted in the water. Pilot was unconscious passenger (son)zane gamewell, was able to hold his fathers head out of the water. Fire and rescue had to break canopy to get both out of cockpit. Pilot received cpr in boat to the awaiting ambulance. He has not regained consciousness since the accident. Passenger was treated and released from local hospital. Later, after removal of the aircraft it was determined that the fuel selector appeared to be on an empty tank. Engine was run with proper fuel.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AFTER TURNING BASE 200 YARDS FROM RUNWAY. PASSENGER REPORTED PILOT PUSHED THE THROTTLE IN SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE. AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ABLE TO DESCENT AND LANDED IN A POND SOUTH OF RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED IN THE WATER. PILOT WAS UNCONSCIOUS PASSENGER (SON)ZANE GAMEWELL, WAS ABLE TO HOLD HIS FATHERS HEAD OUT OF THE WATER. FIRE AND RESCUE HAD TO BREAK CANOPY TO GET BOTH OUT OF COCKPIT. PILOT RECEIVED CPR IN BOAT TO THE AWAITING AMBULANCE. HE HAS NOT REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS SINCE THE ACCIDENT. PASSENGER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM LOCAL HOSPITAL. LATER, AFTER REMOVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR APPEARED TO BE ON AN EMPTY TANK. ENGINE WAS RUN WITH PROPER FUEL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N5985L · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.