What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Prior to departing on a FAR part 91 flight, the pilot obtained a "special VFR clearance" and reported clear of kmfr class "d" airspace to the west remaining clear of clouds in class g airspace. Pilot observed a caution light flicker on the instrument console. Pilot elected to execute a precautionary landing to an observed suitable clearing. While in a left turn in an autorotative approach at approximately 50 foot altitude, fog rolled in under the aircraft and obscured the landing area. The pilot terminated the approach, became spatially disoriented, and the aircraft drifted and struck trees. Aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON A FAR PART 91 FLIGHT, THE PILOT OBTAINED A "SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE" AND REPORTED CLEAR OF KMFR CLASS "D" AIRSPACE TO THE WEST REMAINING CLEAR OF CLOUDS IN CLASS G AIRSPACE. PILOT OBSERVED A CAUTION LIGHT FLICKER ON THE INSTRUMENT CONSOLE. PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OBSERVED SUITABLE CLEARING. WHILE IN A LEFT TURN IN AN AUTOROTATIVE APPROACH AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FOOT ALTITUDE, FOG ROLLED IN UNDER THE AIRCRAFT AND OBSCURED THE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT TERMINATED THE APPROACH, BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED AND STRUCK TREES. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.