What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot privacy data omitted was returning to land after a flight of approximately 40 minutes. At 1000', he was not certain that he could clear the tree line adjacent to the landing site, and elected to have an off-field landing. The aircraft struck a ditch, which was not discernible from the air. The pilot privacy data omitted received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA^ WAS RETURNING TO LAND AFTER A FLIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES. AT 1000', HE WAS NOT CERTAIN THAT HE COULD CLEAR THE TREE LINE ADJACENT TO THE LANDING SITE, AND ELECTED TO HAVE AN OFF-FIELD LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DITCH, WHICH WAS NOT DISCERNIBLE FROM THE AIR. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA^ RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, 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.