What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On June 11, 2003 at approximately 1242 EDT, a steven d. ayers experimental RV-6A aircraft crashed during take-off from runway 22 at the saint simons island, Georgia airport (kssi). The aircraft came to rest inverted approximately 600-700 feet from the departure end of runway 22 and 60-75 feet from the left (east) side of the runway. The pilot Mr. Paul lamar dorn jr., the only person aboard, received minor injuries in the form of a laceration to his forehead. Mr. Dorn in his statement to the glynn county police on scend and in the aircraft inspection by Mr. William p. mcadams A&P at ocean air, inc., it was determined that the rear co-pilot's seat belt was strapped around the control stick as a gust lock. Additionally, Mr. Dorn's oral statement to the FAA inspector stated that he forgot to remove the seat belt from around the rear co-pilot's stick prior to take-off, and did not do a control check prior to beginning the take-off.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JUNE 11, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 1242 EDT, A STEVEN D. AYERS EXPERIMENTAL RV-6A AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING TAKE-OFF FROM RUNWAY 22 AT THE SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA AIRPORT (KSSI). THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED APPROXIMATELY 600-700 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 22 AND 60-75 FEET FROM THE LEFT (EAST) SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MR. PAUL LAMAR DORN JR., THE ONLY PERSON ABOARD, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES IN THE FORM OF A LACERATION TO HIS FOREHEAD. MR. DORN IN HIS STATEMENT TO THE GLYNN COUNTY POLICE ON SCEND AND IN THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTION BY MR. WILLIAM P. MCADAMS A&P AT OCEAN AIR, INC., IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR CO-PILOT'S SEAT BELT WAS STRAPPED AROUND THE CONTROL STICK AS A GUST LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, MR. DORN'S ORAL STATEMENT TO THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED THAT HE FORGOT TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELT FROM AROUND THE REAR CO-PILOT'S STICK PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF, AND DID NOT DO A CONTROL CHECK PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE TAKE-OFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.