What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Homebuilt aircraft departed its home base of deer valley airport for a local pleasure flight. A witness reported observing the aircraft flying up and down arcs similar to zero "g" maneuvers, followed by a steep turn to fly north up the Verde river at an altitude of 200 feet. While flying north up the river the aircraft struck high voltage power transmission lines and burst into flame. Black burn marks were left on the power lines and part of the aircraft that remained above water. The collision destroyed the aircraft and killed the pilot and passenger.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ITS HOME BASE OF DEER VALLEY AIRPORT FOR A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. A WITNESS REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT FLYING UP AND DOWN ARCS SIMILAR TO ZERO "G" MANEUVERS, FOLLOWED BY A STEEP TURN TO FLY NORTH UP THE VERDE RIVER AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET. WHILE FLYING NORTH UP THE RIVER THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK HIGH VOLTAGE POWER TRANSMISSION LINES AND BURST INTO FLAME. BLACK BURN MARKS WERE LEFT ON THE POWER LINES AND PART OF THE AIRCRAFT THAT REMAINED ABOVE WATER. THE COLLISION DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT AND KILLED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.