What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On January 1, 2003, Mr. Frank schley eldridge (cert no 1565797) was the pilot in command (PIC) of an RV6A airplane (N559LJ) on a flight under visual meteorological flight rules (VFR) from waycross, Georgia (ays) to Peachtree City, Georgia (ffc). There were no other occupants aboard the airplane. When N559LJ was about 10-miles southeast of ffc, at approximately 1730EST (eastern standard time), the flight stated its position on common airport traffic frequency (CTAF), and announced that it was going to make a localizer assisted visual approach to runway 31. When the PIC reduced power to begin descending from about 2,500 ft. mean sea level (MSL) for landing, the engine began to run roughly, and it stopped running a few seconds later. The PIC attempted to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. N559LJ did not declare an emergency. At approximately 1736EST, N559LJ crashed in a low lying wetland about 500 ft. short of the approach end of runway 31. The airplane was substantially damaged in the crash, and the pilot incurred a 1-inch cut on the forehead. No persons on the ground were injured; other property damage was confined to a broken masonry sewer cap and flattened underbrush at the crash site.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JANUARY 1, 2003, MR. FRANK SCHLEY ELDRIDGE (CERT NO 1565797) WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF AN RV6A AIRPLANE (N559LJ) ON A FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) FROM WAYCROSS, GEORGIA (AYS) TO PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA (FFC). THERE WERE NO OTHER OCCUPANTS ABOARD THE AIRPLANE. WHEN N559LJ WAS ABOUT 10-MILES SOUTHEAST OF FFC, AT APPROXIMATELY 1730EST (EASTERN STANDARD TIME), THE FLIGHT STATED ITS POSITION ON COMMON AIRPORT TRAFFIC FREQUENCY (CTAF), AND ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS GOING TO MAKE A LOCALIZER ASSISTED VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 31. WHEN THE PIC REDUCED POWER TO BEGIN DESCENDING FROM ABOUT 2,500 FT. MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY, AND IT STOPPED RUNNING A FEW SECONDS LATER. THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. N559LJ DID NOT DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. AT APPROXIMATELY 1736EST, N559LJ CRASHED IN A LOW LYING WETLAND ABOUT 500 FT. SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 31. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN THE CRASH, AND THE PILOT INCURRED A 1-INCH CUT ON THE FOREHEAD. NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED; OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO A BROKEN MASONRY SEWER CAP AND FLATTENED UNDERBRUSH AT THE CRASH SITE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.