What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A/c departed mmv. Time/weather cond. Unkn. No flt plan. A/c in route to pae, everett, WA. In-flight contact with seattle afss at 2231 (1531) and 2254 (1554) requesting weather. Afss advised VFR flt. Not recommended. A/c impacted 50 ft. trees on edge of clearing, weyerhauser property, approx. 10 mi. Sw of Toutle. A/c burned. Pilot called 911 at 1820. Lewis co. dispatch initiated search and notified seattle fss. Fss issued alnot at 0716 on 08/22/04. Lewis co. transferred s&r to cowlitz co. wreckage/smoke spotted by aircraft approx. 1200; same time as pilot reached Toutle by foot. Rescue found pilot's son and brother at aircraft. Brother died soon after. Pilot & son to longview hospital. A/c interior 100% destroyed by fire. Wings appeared to have impacted trees simultaneously and departed aircraft. Prop sheared at crankshaft attach point-found 20 yds. Away.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A/C DEPARTED MMV. TIME/WEATHER COND. UNKN. NO FLT PLAN. A/C IN ROUTE TO PAE, EVERETT, WA. IN-FLIGHT CONTACT WITH SEATTLE AFSS AT 2231 (1531) AND 2254 (1554) REQUESTING WEATHER. AFSS ADVISED VFR FLT. NOT RECOMMENDED. A/C IMPACTED 50 FT. TREES ON EDGE OF CLEARING, WEYERHAUSER PROPERTY, APPROX. 10 MI. SW OF TOUTLE. A/C BURNED. PILOT CALLED 911 AT 1820. LEWIS CO. DISPATCH INITIATED SEARCH AND NOTIFIED SEATTLE FSS. FSS ISSUED ALNOT AT 0716 ON 08/22/04. LEWIS CO. TRANSFERRED S&R TO COWLITZ CO. WRECKAGE/SMOKE SPOTTED BY AIRCRAFT APPROX. 1200; SAME TIME AS PILOT REACHED TOUTLE BY FOOT. RESCUE FOUND PILOT'S SON AND BROTHER AT AIRCRAFT. BROTHER DIED SOON AFTER. PILOT & SON TO LONGVIEW HOSPITAL. A/C INTERIOR 100% DESTROYED BY FIRE. WINGS APPEARED TO HAVE IMPACTED TREES SIMULTANEOUSLY AND DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. PROP SHEARED AT CRANKSHAFT ATTACH POINT-FOUND 20 YDS. AWAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.