What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated he took off from vks airport at approximately 1505 LCL and flew west to the Mississippi river which is 3 miles west of the airport. He further stated he descended to about ten feet above the river surface as he passed the letourneau facility located on the river he noticed his landing gear was still down. He inadvertently reduced the throttle while attempting to retract the gear. The nose dipped and struck the water at 70-75 mph. The aircraft came to violent stop and flipped upside down. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft and it sank into the river. The aircraft sank and all attempts to locate the aircraft have been unsuccessful.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF FROM VKS AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1505 LCL AND FLEW WEST TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WHICH IS 3 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. HE FURTHER STATED HE DESCENDED TO ABOUT TEN FEET ABOVE THE RIVER SURFACE AS HE PASSED THE LETOURNEAU FACILITY LOCATED ON THE RIVER HE NOTICED HIS LANDING GEAR WAS STILL DOWN. HE INADVERTENTLY REDUCED THE THROTTLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETRACT THE GEAR. THE NOSE DIPPED AND STRUCK THE WATER AT 70-75 MPH. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO VIOLENT STOP AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND IT SANK INTO THE RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT SANK AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE THE AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N42685 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.