What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) At approximately 1400 hours CST, a kit fox aircraft departed sky harbor airport in Selma, Alabama. The pilot stated that while the aircraft was climbing through 400 feet AGL, the aircraft started having mechanical malfunction. The EGT gauge read 1300 degrees fahrenheit (1200 max). He attempted to return back to the airport when the aircraft's engine quit and the aircraft started losing altitude. He attempted an emergency landing in a nearby pasture; the right wing struck the top of a tree, and the aircraft impacted the ground in a vertical direction. The pilot received non life threatening injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 HOURS CST, A KIT FOX AIRCRAFT DEPARTED SKY HARBOR AIRPORT IN SELMA, ALABAMA. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 400 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED HAVING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE EGT GAUGE READ 1300 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (1200 MAX). HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED LOSING ALTITUDE. HE ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A NEARBY PASTURE; THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION. THE PILOT RECEIVED NON LIFE THREATENING INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.