What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was on a maintenance test flight and his passenger privacy data omitted was the mechanic that had been working on the aircraft. The aircraft departed runway 4R at approximately 0714 MST, immediately after becoming airborne the pilot stated he needed to return to the airport, he had an emergency. The pilot was cleared to land any runway. Witness statements stated the aircraft was very low and the engine was sputtering, the left wing dipped low and the aircraft impacted the ground. After striking the ground the aircraft burst into flames and the aircraft was destroyed by the post accident fire. Neither occupant was able to evacuate the aircraft. The aircraft had been in for an annual inspection and maintenance had been performed on the fuel lines.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT AND HIS PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DATA ^ WAS THE MECHANIC THAT HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 4R AT APPROXIMATELY 0714 MST, IMMEDIATELY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE THE PILOT STATED HE NEEDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, HE HAD AN EMERGENCY. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ANY RUNWAY. WITNESS STATEMENTS STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY LOW AND THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING, THE LEFT WING DIPPED LOW AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. AFTER STRIKING THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE POST ACCIDENT FIRE. NEITHER OCCUPANT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN IN FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE FUEL LINES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.