What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 14, 2004, at approximately 1530 eastern daylight time, a Waco Qcf, N11478 was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after takeoff from old Rhinebeck Airport, Rhinebeck, new york. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The airplane was departing to the south on a 2,200-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, dirt runway. The pilot reported that he heard a "pop" during the initial climb which was followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot elected to retard the throttle, and perform a forced landing to a field adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane's lower left wing was damaged. Initial examination of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 14, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A WACO QCF, N11478 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING, AFTER TAKEOFF FROM OLD RHINEBECK AIRPORT, RHINEBECK, NEW YORK. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING TO THE SOUTH ON A 2,200-FOOT-LONG, 75-FOOT-WIDE, DIRT RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HEARD A "POP" DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETARD THE THROTTLE, AND PERFORM A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S LOWER LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.