What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While passing through the Redding, CA airport traffic area the pilot noticed a vibration in the aircraft. The vibration became worse then the aircraft began to pitch up and down. The pilot called Redding tower and declared an emergency, at this time he is south of the airport at about 7,500FT. He became aware the propeller had left the aircraft and began a best rate of descent 180 turn to the Redding airport. During the descent he realized he would not make it to the airport, and crashed into a field about one mile south of the airport. The pilot was the lone occupant in the aircraft and he sustained a back injury. The aircraft was substantially damaged in the crash.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE PASSING THROUGH THE REDDING, CA AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA THE PILOT NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE VIBRATION BECAME WORSE THEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PITCH UP AND DOWN. THE PILOT CALLED REDDING TOWER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, AT THIS TIME HE IS SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 7,500FT. HE BECAME AWARE THE PROPELLER HAD LEFT THE AIRCRAFT AND BEGAN A BEST RATE OF DESCENT 180 TURN TO THE REDDING AIRPORT. DURING THE DESCENT HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, AND CRASHED INTO A FIELD ABOUT ONE MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS THE LONE OCCUPANT IN THE AIRCRAFT AND HE SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN THE CRASH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.