What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During takeoff, N171S experienced an apparent power problem. The airplane rolled left just off the end of runway 35 and descended at a 90 degree angle into the ground.privacy data omitted ^Was pilot in command on September 25, 1999, when the aircraft experienced right engine failure. The aircraft sat for five years, was recently sold to privacy data omitted, and his mechanics were here working to get N171S airworthy. The mechanic, privacy data omitted had asked the pilot to do a couple of high speed taxi runs and check to see what manifold pressure the engines were generating. (A static engine run with superchargers is not accurate enough to determine actual engine output). The pilot made two high speed engine runs, and then elected to try and take off. The landing gear appeared to be down, and the videotape shows that the pilot lost control of the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING TAKEOFF, N171S EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT POWER PROBLEM. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT JUST OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 35 AND DESCENDED AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE INTO THE GROUND.^PRIVACY ^WAS PILOT IN COMMAND ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1999, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED RIGHT ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT SAT FOR FIVE YEARS, WAS RECENTLY SOLD TO ^PRIVACY DATA^, AND HIS MECHANICS WERE HERE WORKING TO GET N171S AIRWORTHY. THE MECHANIC, ^PRIVACY DATA O^ HAD ASKED THE PILOT TO DO A COUPLE OF HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT MANIFOLD PRESSURE THE ENGINES WERE GENERATING. (A STATIC ENGINE RUN WITH SUPERCHARGERS IS NOT ACCURATE ENOUGH TO DETERMINE ACTUAL ENGINE OUTPUT). THE PILOT MADE TWO HIGH SPEED ENGINE RUNS, AND THEN ELECTED TO TRY AND TAKE OFF. THE LANDING GEAR APPEARED TO BE DOWN, AND THE VIDEOTAPE SHOWS THAT THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.