What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was departing runway 36 in Vandalia, IL at 8:45 local time. A witness states that about twenty seconds after takeoff the aircraft turned to the left at a 90 degree bank angle for about 10 seconds and then disappeared. A few seconds later a cloud of dust arose. The witness then immediately notified the FBO. The pilot and sole occupant sustained severe injuries but was conscious. He was air lifted to a hospital in st. louis. Winds at the time of the accident were reported to be easterly at 7 KTS. The aircraft impacted a bean field left wing down followed by the fuselage. It appeared that the aircraft slid sideways and rocked onto the right wing before coming to rest.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 36 IN VANDALIA, IL AT 8:45 LOCAL TIME. A WITNESS STATES THAT ABOUT TWENTY SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE LEFT AT A 90 DEGREE BANK ANGLE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THEN DISAPPEARED. A FEW SECONDS LATER A CLOUD OF DUST AROSE. THE WITNESS THEN IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE FBO. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES BUT WAS CONSCIOUS. HE WAS AIR LIFTED TO A HOSPITAL IN ST. LOUIS. WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE EASTERLY AT 7 KTS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A BEAN FIELD LEFT WING DOWN FOLLOWED BY THE FUSELAGE. IT APPEARED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SLID SIDEWAYS AND ROCKED ONTO THE RIGHT WING BEFORE COMING TO REST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.