What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) According to witness statements, the aircraft had just undergone extensive restoration and major repairs. Conflicting witness statements and inability to interview the pilot, who sustained traumatic injuries, make it unclear as to what happened prior to and after take-off. However, it is believed that the aircraft took off from runway 9 at Mexico farms and entered a right downwind at approximately 400 feet above the ground level. On the downwind leg just short of where a right turn to base would be possible, the aircraft abruptly turned left, lost altitude, and crashed behind a residence.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE RESTORATION AND MAJOR REPAIRS. CONFLICTING WITNESS STATEMENTS AND INABILITY TO INTERVIEW THE PILOT, WHO SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC INJURIES, MAKE IT UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO AND AFTER TAKE-OFF. HOWEVER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 9 AT MEXICO FARMS AND ENTERED A RIGHT DOWNWIND AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG JUST SHORT OF WHERE A RIGHT TURN TO BASE WOULD BE POSSIBLE, THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY TURNED LEFT, LOST ALTITUDE, AND CRASHED BEHIND A RESIDENCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.