What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot reported that the engine began running erratically and losing power four minutes after takeoff. He was unable to sustain flight and elected to land in a harvested corn field. The nose landing gear broke off, and the airplane flipped over. The investigation revealed significant amounts of water in the right fuel tank, from which fuel had been selected. The airplane had sat outside for approximately three years without being flown and had not undergone an annual inspection in 4-1/2 years.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ERRATICALLY AND LOSING POWER FOUR MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. HE WAS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT AND ELECTED TO LAND IN A HARVESTED CORN FIELD. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, FROM WHICH FUEL HAD BEEN SELECTED. THE AIRPLANE HAD SAT OUTSIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS WITHOUT BEING FLOWN AND HAD NOT UNDERGONE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION IN 4-1/2 YEARS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.