What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While enroute to gunnison Colorado, at FL 290, pilot (owner/operator) was circumnavigating around cumulonimbus clouds. The weather deteriorated significantly and elected to divert to Santa Fe, NM. During descent through the clouds he encountered to severe downdrafts, declared an emergency and landed at the saf arpt. Maintenance personnel later discovered substantial damage to both wing spar assemblies which were subsequently replaced.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE ENROUTE TO GUNNISON COLORADO, AT FL 290, PILOT (OWNER/OPERATOR) WAS CIRCUMNAVIGATING AROUND CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS. THE WEATHER DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY AND ELECTED TO DIVERT TO SANTA FE, NM. DURING DESCENT THROUGH THE CLOUDS HE ENCOUNTERED TO SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT THE SAF ARPT. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL LATER DISCOVERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WING SPAR ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.