What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot and passengers stated the aircraft take off was normal, however, during climb out the aircraft had a loss of engine power at approximately 500-600 feet. Pilot turned aircraft to land on a grass strip, picked up a 10-15 mph tail wind, increasing the descent rate and resulting in an accident. One passenger was ejected from the aircraft causing an injury to her back. She stated her seat belt was routed through the leg strap of her container system, but has no memory of the accident. Pilot stated he did not sump the fuel tanks before the flight, because he had sumped them the night before. On-site investigation discovered water in the fuel strainer, and carburetor bowl.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT AND PASSENGERS STATED THE AIRCRAFT TAKE OFF WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER, DURING CLIMB OUT THE AIRCRAFT HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 500-600 FEET. PILOT TURNED AIRCRAFT TO LAND ON A GRASS STRIP, PICKED UP A 10-15 MPH TAIL WIND, INCREASING THE DESCENT RATE AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ONE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING AN INJURY TO HER BACK. SHE STATED HER SEAT BELT WAS ROUTED THROUGH THE LEG STRAP OF HER CONTAINER SYSTEM, BUT HAS NO MEMORY OF THE ACCIDENT. PILOT STATED HE DID NOT SUMP THE FUEL TANKS BEFORE THE FLIGHT, BECAUSE HE HAD SUMPED THEM THE NIGHT BEFORE. ON-SITE INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED WATER IN THE FUEL STRAINER, AND CARBURETOR BOWL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.