What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 4/30/06, at approximately 1530E, the pilot PIC privacy data omitted took off from runway 35; all instruments appeared to be working normally. At approximately 83 KIAS, as the plane was climbing thru 100 feet, the PIC and his wife who was sitting in the right front seat began to smell smoke. PIC retracted the landing gear at approximately 400-500 feet AGL and started a left hand turn to crosswind runway 17 pattern to return to the airport and land. At this point, the PIC and his wife started seeing smoke. PIC called on the radio that he was returning to the airport. As PIC was turning he could see a Cessna taking off. Cessna pilot asked if he had an emergency, PIC told him yes, and that he had smoke in the cockpit. Cessna pilot then made an expedient right hand turn departure off of runway 17 to clear the runway. The pilot ^privac^ then lowered the landing gear; however, it was necessary to add power due to the drag induced by the landing gear. As a result, the smoke then significantly increased to the point where it was becoming difficult for the PIC to see the instruments. PIC then became concerned that he would not be able to see outside for visual references, he began opening up vents, especially the side window. PIC stated from the altitude and position that he was at, the runway environment was not conducive for a safe landing. PIC then observed a field which was suitable to land in. While increasing power, smoke increased significantly, PIC then made a decision to put the aircraft on the ground immediately. PIC maintained altitude and turned to approximately a 180 degree heading to clear telephone poles, trees, and a county road. After touchdown, PIC attempted to keep the nose up as much as possible for a soft field landing. The roll out was approximately less then 800 feet in a field with high grass (approximately 7 inches). After the aircraft came to a complete stop, PIC and passengers exited the aircraft. There was no post landing fire, smoke, or damage to the aircraft. Local fire department and police arrived at the scene for assistance. No injuries were reported.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 4/30/06, AT APPROXIMATELY 1530E, THE PILOT PIC ^PRIVACY DATA O^ TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 35; ALL INSTRUMENTS APPEARED TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. AT APPROXIMATELY 83 KIAS, AS THE PLANE WAS CLIMBING THRU 100 FEET, THE PIC AND HIS WIFE WHO WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. PIC RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 400-500 FEET AGL AND STARTED A LEFT HAND TURN TO CROSSWIND RUNWAY 17 PATTERN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND. AT THIS POINT, THE PIC AND HIS WIFE STARTED SEEING SMOKE. PIC CALLED ON THE RADIO THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. AS PIC WAS TURNING HE COULD SEE A CESSNA TAKING OFF. CESSNA PILOT ASKED IF HE HAD AN EMERGENCY, PIC TOLD HIM YES, AND THAT HE HAD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. CESSNA PILOT THEN MADE AN EXPEDIENT RIGHT HAND TURN DEPARTURE OFF OF RUNWAY 17 TO CLEAR THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ^PRIVAC^ THEN LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR; HOWEVER, IT WAS NECESSARY TO ADD POWER DUE TO THE DRAG INDUCED BY THE LANDING GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE SMOKE THEN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT FOR THE PIC TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTS. PIC THEN BECAME CONCERNED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OUTSIDE FOR VISUAL REFERENCES, HE BEGAN OPENING UP VENTS, ESPECIALLY THE SIDE WINDOW. PIC STATED FROM THE ALTITUDE AND POSITION THAT HE WAS AT, THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR A SAFE LANDING. PIC THEN OBSERVED A FIELD WHICH WAS SUITABLE TO LAND IN. WHILE INCREASING POWER, SMOKE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, PIC THEN MADE A DECISION TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY. PIC MAINTAINED ALTITUDE AND TURNED TO APPROXIMATELY A 180 DEGREE HEADING TO CLEAR TELEPHONE POLES, TREES, AND A COUNTY ROAD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, PIC ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE NOSE UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR A SOFT FIELD LANDING. THE ROLL OUT WAS APPROXIMATELY LESS THEN 800 FEET IN A FIELD WITH HIGH GRASS (APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES). AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PIC AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST LANDING FIRE, SMOKE, OR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE FOR ASSISTANCE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.