What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Flight from novato, CA (dov) to Ranchaero (O23) Chico, CA. The pilot reported losing power when on approach and crashed one mile northwest of the airport into an orchard. No injuries reported with substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot departed under an IFR flight plan. Some time during the flight weather improved so that the pilot canceled the IFR flight plan. He then descended from 6,000 feet to about 1,000 to 1,500 on a long low maneuvering approach to the uncontrolled airport. The pilot indicated he had carburetor heat on during this time of reduced power setting. The pilot stated that about a mile short of the airports the engine abruptly quit and he was too low to attempt a restart of the engine.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) FLIGHT FROM NOVATO, CA (DOV) TO RANCHAERO (O23) CHICO, CA. THE PILOT REPORTED LOSING POWER WHEN ON APPROACH AND CRASHED ONE MILE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT INTO AN ORCHARD. NO INJURIES REPORTED WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT DEPARTED UNDER AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. SOME TIME DURING THE FLIGHT WEATHER IMPROVED SO THAT THE PILOT CANCELED THE IFR FLIGHT PLAN. HE THEN DESCENDED FROM 6,000 FEET TO ABOUT 1,000 TO 1,500 ON A LONG LOW MANEUVERING APPROACH TO THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE PILOT INDICATED HE HAD CARBURETOR HEAT ON DURING THIS TIME OF REDUCED POWER SETTING. THE PILOT STATED THAT ABOUT A MILE SHORT OF THE AIRPORTS THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUIT AND HE WAS TOO LOW TO ATTEMPT A RESTART OF THE ENGINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.