What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 14th, 2003, at 1250 EST, a private pilot, registered owner of a Cessna 177, N3275T, collided with trees and rising terrain at kitsuma peak, near Old Fort, north carolina. The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries as a result of the impact. Approximately 15 minutes prior to the crash, N3275T departed ashville, north carolina under VFR (visual flight rules). The flight then continued into weather conditions which requires operation under IFR conditions (instrument flight rules). The weather condition at the accident site was published as, "2500 feet overcast", the aircraft impacted the terrain at, "2900 feet". Additionally, this investigation revealed the carriage of substantially more baggage weight in the aft portion of the aircraft than certification standards permit.privacy data omitted
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 14TH, 2003, AT 1250 EST, A PRIVATE PILOT, REGISTERED OWNER OF A CESSNA 177, N3275T, COLLIDED WITH TREES AND RISING TERRAIN AT KITSUMA PEAK, NEAR OLD FORT, NORTH CAROLINA. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH, N3275T DEPARTED ASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA UNDER VFR (VISUAL FLIGHT RULES). THE FLIGHT THEN CONTINUED INTO WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH REQUIRES OPERATION UNDER IFR CONDITIONS (INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES). THE WEATHER CONDITION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS PUBLISHED AS, "2500 FEET OVERCAST", THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT, "2900 FEET". ADDITIONALLY, THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARRIAGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY MORE BAGGAGE WEIGHT IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT THAN CERTIFICATION STANDARDS PERMIT.^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.