What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft impacted mountainous terrain at approximately 7750' MSL. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post crash fire. On scene investigation indicated that aircraft was in a wing level attitude at initial impact with trees. Flaps were determined to be extended approximately 10 degrees based on jack screw measurement. Propeller damage indicated the engine was producing significant power at impact. No pre impact mechanical discrepancies were evident during investigation. It was reported by family members that the aircraft had been observed circling a family members cabin near the accident site shortly before the time of the accident, although no specific details were available. The calculated density altitude was 10200' at accident site. Pilot times noted above are estimates based on information provided by the pilot's family and his military flight records. The pilot was an active duty navy pilot, flying C-2 aircraft. The family was unable to locate a civilian flight log.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 7750' MSL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND POST CRASH FIRE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT AIRCRAFT WAS IN A WING LEVEL ATTITUDE AT INITIAL IMPACT WITH TREES. FLAPS WERE DETERMINED TO BE EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 10 DEGREES BASED ON JACK SCREW MEASUREMENT. PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT POWER AT IMPACT. NO PRE IMPACT MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE EVIDENT DURING INVESTIGATION. IT WAS REPORTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN OBSERVED CIRCLING A FAMILY MEMBERS CABIN NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE SHORTLY BEFORE THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ALTHOUGH NO SPECIFIC DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10200' AT ACCIDENT SITE. PILOT TIMES NOTED ABOVE ARE ESTIMATES BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PILOT'S FAMILY AND HIS MILITARY FLIGHT RECORDS. THE PILOT WAS AN ACTIVE DUTY NAVY PILOT, FLYING C-2 AIRCRAFT. THE FAMILY WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A CIVILIAN FLIGHT LOG.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.