What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 2, 2004, N271EP, a Cessna 172N, was being operated by marc martin burton, a certificated commercial pilot. The aircraft departed sanford, FL (sfb) on in IFR flight plan to Columbia, SC (cae). Columbia approach had cleared the aircraft to land on runway 29 at cae when the pilot stated that he was having engine problems. The pilot executed an emergency landing on a golf course, located in west Columbia, SC about 1 mile south of the airport. The pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 2, 2004, N271EP, A CESSNA 172N, WAS BEING OPERATED BY MARC MARTIN BURTON, A CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED SANFORD, FL (SFB) ON IN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO COLUMBIA, SC (CAE). COLUMBIA APPROACH HAD CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 29 AT CAE WHEN THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE, LOCATED IN WEST COLUMBIA, SC ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED 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.