What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Witnesses observed airplane maneuvering in vicinity of airport descend in near vertical attitude and impact ground. Airplane appeared to be operating normally prior to entering a steep descent. Flight control continuity established. Evidence indicates that engine was operating normally. Associates and family members of the pilot stated that he had taken prescription medication for the treatment of depression, and that the medication had recently been changed by his physician. Three days prior to the crash the pilot was admitted to a local hospital due to an overdose of sleeping pills. He was released from the hospital the day before the crash.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WITNESSES OBSERVED AIRPLANE MANEUVERING IN VICINITY OF AIRPORT DESCEND IN NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND IMPACT GROUND. AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY PRIOR TO ENTERING A STEEP DESCENT. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY ESTABLISHED. EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT ENGINE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. ASSOCIATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION, AND THAT THE MEDICATION HAD RECENTLY BEEN CHANGED BY HIS PHYSICIAN. THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE PILOT WAS ADMITTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL DUE TO AN OVERDOSE OF SLEEPING PILLS. HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THE DAY BEFORE THE CRASH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.