What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was on climb at approximately 10,500 ft when it encountered a low oil pressure indication. Pilot contacted March tower and advised them that he would like to request a return to french valley airport. Request was granted and pilot proceeded back to french valley airport. Approximately five minutes later and at 7,000 ft and descending the oil pressure pegged out followed by a loud bang. Pilot reported to March tower that his engine had stopped and that there was smoke in the cockpit. Pilot declared an emergency and notified March tower that he would try to land in an open field near lake matthews. Pilot landed aircraft and then slid for approximately 900 ft coming to rest in a small gulley. Aircraft suffered substantial damage to wings, engine and nose gear. All occupants including pilot had no injuries. Awaiting preliminary from NTSB.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON CLIMB AT APPROXIMATELY 10,500 FT WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED A LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATION. PILOT CONTACTED MARCH TOWER AND ADVISED THEM THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RETURN TO FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT. REQUEST WAS GRANTED AND PILOT PROCEEDED BACK TO FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER AND AT 7,000 FT AND DESCENDING THE OIL PRESSURE PEGGED OUT FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. PILOT REPORTED TO MARCH TOWER THAT HIS ENGINE HAD STOPPED AND THAT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND NOTIFIED MARCH TOWER THAT HE WOULD TRY TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR LAKE MATTHEWS. PILOT LANDED AIRCRAFT AND THEN SLID FOR APPROXIMATELY 900 FT COMING TO REST IN A SMALL GULLEY. AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO WINGS, ENGINE AND NOSE GEAR. ALL OCCUPANTS INCLUDING PILOT HAD NO INJURIES. AWAITING PRELIMINARY FROM NTSB.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.