What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) 12/27/06: Approx 1300 LCL time, departed wjf VFR enroute to O23 (ranchero airport, chico, CA). Aircraft crashed (destroyed) 2.5 miles south of neenoch (290th west and hwy 138). 12/28/06: interview with pilot at antelope valley hospital: stated that he encountered extreme turbulence and downdrafts while VFR on top at 12,500. Downdraft caused aircraft to penetrate cloud layers below. Pilot lost control and began "death spiral." Recovered and re-entered spiral. During recovery from spiral, made ground contact and attempted to direct impact on "uphill" slope to absorb most energy. Pilot injuries serious, but not life threatening: broken right arm, facial lacerations, bruised/broken ribs, injured spine.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) 12/27/06: APPROX 1300 LCL TIME, DEPARTED WJF VFR ENROUTE TO O23 (RANCHERO AIRPORT, CHICO, CA). AIRCRAFT CRASHED (DESTROYED) 2.5 MILES SOUTH OF NEENOCH (290TH WEST AND HWY 138). 12/28/06: INTERVIEW WITH PILOT AT ANTELOPE VALLEY HOSPITAL: STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS WHILE VFR ON TOP AT 12,500. DOWNDRAFT CAUSED AIRCRAFT TO PENETRATE CLOUD LAYERS BELOW. PILOT LOST CONTROL AND BEGAN "DEATH SPIRAL." RECOVERED AND RE-ENTERED SPIRAL. DURING RECOVERY FROM SPIRAL, MADE GROUND CONTACT AND ATTEMPTED TO DIRECT IMPACT ON "UPHILL" SLOPE TO ABSORB MOST ENERGY. PILOT INJURIES SERIOUS, BUT NOT LIFE THREATENING: BROKEN RIGHT ARM, FACIAL LACERATIONS, BRUISED/BROKEN RIBS, INJURED SPINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.