What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On June 5th, 2004 at 1615 CDT, an experimental, amateur built, acro sport ii registered to and operated by richard e. merkel lost power in cruise flight and attempted an emergency landing five miles west of Beloit, Wisconsin. The aircraft collided with power lines and impacted the ground collapsing the landing gear resulting in damage to the lower wings and distortion of the attachment of the left upper wing to the center section. VFR conditions existed. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight originated at the owner's private airstrip near pecatonica, IL on June 5th, 2004 with stops at freeport, IL and monroe, WI departing monroe at approximately 1510 CDT. The investigation revealed the aircraft ran out of fuel.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JUNE 5TH, 2004 AT 1615 CDT, AN EXPERIMENTAL, AMATEUR BUILT, ACRO SPORT II REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY RICHARD E. MERKEL LOST POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING FIVE MILES WEST OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE LOWER WINGS AND DISTORTION OF THE ATTACHMENT OF THE LEFT UPPER WING TO THE CENTER SECTION. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE OWNER'S PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR PECATONICA, IL ON JUNE 5TH, 2004 WITH STOPS AT FREEPORT, IL AND MONROE, WI DEPARTING MONROE AT APPROXIMATELY 1510 CDT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.