What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot departed Bridgeport, CA (O57) at 13:45 local. The pilot made several climbing 360 degree turns to an altitude of approximately 8,500 feet MSL. The pilot headed west to his destination airport of watsonville, CA (wvi). When crossing the sierra Nevada mountains, the pilot reported experiencing a sudden loss of altitude and aircraft performance. The pilot attempted to turn left and then right; however, the aircraft stalled with each turn. The pilot then performed a straight ahead landing at the approximate 9,800 foot level. The left main and nose landing gear separated from the aircraft and there was no post accident fire.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED BRIDGEPORT, CA (O57) AT 13:45 LOCAL. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL CLIMBING 360 DEGREE TURNS TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 8,500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT HEADED WEST TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT OF WATSONVILLE, CA (WVI). WHEN CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT AND THEN RIGHT; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED WITH EACH TURN. THE PILOT THEN PERFORMED A STRAIGHT AHEAD LANDING AT THE APPROXIMATE 9,800 FOOT LEVEL. THE LEFT MAIN AND NOSE LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.