What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The FAA was not invited to participate in a formal investigation, by the California department of forestries. NTSB preliminary report indicates the aircraft was operating low level, while maneuvering, during an aerial observation flight in steeply rising terrain, (25 to 40 degree upslope) in a box like canyon. A witness reported hearing the engines rev up just prior to the sound of impact.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE FAA WAS NOT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A FORMAL INVESTIGATION, BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRIES. NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORT INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING LOW LEVEL, WHILE MANEUVERING, DURING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT IN STEEPLY RISING TERRAIN, (25 TO 40 DEGREE UPSLOPE) IN A BOX LIKE CANYON. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINES REV UP JUST PRIOR TO THE SOUND OF IMPACT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.