What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was on downwind leg when engine allegedly went to an idle. The controls were turned over to instructor. The instructor attempted to glide to the runway, realizing they were not going to make the runway, the instructor attempted to land aircraft in field, the aircraft struck a small tree top and the ground. The aircraft slid to a stop striking several tree stumps in the process. CFI and rated pilot then secured aircraft, shut off fuel and exited the aircraft. No injuries. Upon aircraft inspection no discrepancies were noted with the fuel, spark or air. Aircraft engine systems appear normal. For details of inspection see written inspectors statement.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON DOWNWIND LEG WHEN ENGINE ALLEGEDLY WENT TO AN IDLE. THE CONTROLS WERE TURNED OVER TO INSTRUCTOR. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE RUNWAY, REALIZING THEY WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO LAND AIRCRAFT IN FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A SMALL TREE TOP AND THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP STRIKING SEVERAL TREE STUMPS IN THE PROCESS. CFI AND RATED PILOT THEN SECURED AIRCRAFT, SHUT OFF FUEL AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. NO INJURIES. UPON AIRCRAFT INSPECTION NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED WITH THE FUEL, SPARK OR AIR. AIRCRAFT ENGINE SYSTEMS APPEAR NORMAL. FOR DETAILS OF INSPECTION SEE WRITTEN INSPECTORS STATEMENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.