What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) I was notified by roc about 1330 PDT 8-1-04. I proceeded to Whidbey island and met the sheriff near Langley. I surveyed the damage that was complete due to fire and impact damage. The body of Mr. Hagler was removed by the time I arrived. There was no obvious reason why the aircraft went down. Mr. Hagler's medical certificate was expired by one year. It was my understanding that this was his first flight in a year to two. His age of 73 years and a possible medical condition could have been a contributing cause but that is speculation only. The aircraft was burned completely and would be difficult to determine if there may have been a mechanical condition.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) I WAS NOTIFIED BY ROC ABOUT 1330 PDT 8-1-04. I PROCEEDED TO WHIDBEY ISLAND AND MET THE SHERIFF NEAR LANGLEY. I SURVEYED THE DAMAGE THAT WAS COMPLETE DUE TO FIRE AND IMPACT DAMAGE. THE BODY OF MR. HAGLER WAS REMOVED BY THE TIME I ARRIVED. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS REASON WHY THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN. MR. HAGLER'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS EXPIRED BY ONE YEAR. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN A YEAR TO TWO. HIS AGE OF 73 YEARS AND A POSSIBLE MEDICAL CONDITION COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING CAUSE BUT THAT IS SPECULATION ONLY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BURNED COMPLETELY AND WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MECHANICAL CONDITION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.