What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 12/9/2006, at approximately 1040 hours PST, harmon rocket ii aircraft, N604JL, crashed 15 miles southwest of Bakersfield, CA, fatally injuring the pilot and passenger. The pilot, privacy data omitted pilot in command, operating under part 91, departed Bakersfield municipal (L45) at approximately 1010 hours PST, with one passenger, privacy data omitted for a 15 minute to 20 minute sightseeing flight southwest of Bakersfield. Witnesses reported N604JL conducting low altitude aerobatic maneuvers when it struck the ground at approximately 1040 hours PST. Accident site evidence indicates N604JL impacted in a near level attitude, at a high rate of speed, with power applied. The aircraft compacted into itself and came to rest approximately 100 yards from the impact point. The passenger was ejected and thrown about 50 feet from the aircraft wreckage. The pilot was trapped in the wreckage. Both occupants were killed instantly.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 12/9/2006, AT APPROXIMATELY 1040 HOURS PST, HARMON ROCKET II AIRCRAFT, N604JL, CRASHED 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BAKERSFIELD, CA, FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT AND PASSENGER. THE PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMIT^ PILOT IN COMMAND, OPERATING UNDER PART 91, DEPARTED BAKERSFIELD MUNICIPAL (L45) AT APPROXIMATELY 1010 HOURS PST, WITH ONE PASSENGER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FOR A 15 MINUTE TO 20 MINUTE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT SOUTHWEST OF BAKERSFIELD. WITNESSES REPORTED N604JL CONDUCTING LOW ALTITUDE AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHEN IT STRUCK THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY 1040 HOURS PST. ACCIDENT SITE EVIDENCE INDICATES N604JL IMPACTED IN A NEAR LEVEL ATTITUDE, AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, WITH POWER APPLIED. THE AIRCRAFT COMPACTED INTO ITSELF AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS FROM THE IMPACT POINT. THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED AND THROWN ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE. THE PILOT WAS TRAPPED IN THE WRECKAGE. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED INSTANTLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.