What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 25, 2003, at 2250Z, a Piper model PA-31P, N36DR, on take-off from arbor vitae (arv) airport, arbor vitae, WI, crash-landed and burned a quarter mile north west of runway 36. The private pilot and three passengerssustained fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Edward r. volger was operating the aircraft as a personal flight, for the owner, under 14 CFR part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. Investigation determined the no.1 engine was not running at time of final impact. Flight control continuity check revealed only damage consistent with impact. Further investigation of no. 1 engine proved inconclusive as to cause of failure. Flight path consistent with loss of control due to left engine failure.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 25, 2003, AT 2250Z, A PIPER MODEL PA-31P, N36DR, ON TAKE-OFF FROM ARBOR VITAE (ARV) AIRPORT, ARBOR VITAE, WI, CRASH-LANDED AND BURNED A QUARTER MILE NORTH WEST OF RUNWAY 36. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERSSUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. EDWARD R. VOLGER WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT, FOR THE OWNER, UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE NO.1 ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT TIME OF FINAL IMPACT. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY CHECK REVEALED ONLY DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH IMPACT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF NO. 1 ENGINE PROVED INCONCLUSIVE AS TO CAUSE OF FAILURE. FLIGHT PATH CONSISTENT WITH LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO LEFT ENGINE FAILURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.