What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot transmitted a "mayday" call reporting a sudden engine failure; aircraft was at 3,400 feet MSL, nine (9) miles west of baldwin county airport (mlj). The aircraft impacted 30-50 foot trees approximately 10 feet above the ground at the eastern edge of a field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact with the trees and by the ensuing fire. NTSB engine tear down analysis indicated that the engine was not running upon impact with the trees; the pilot was dealing with an off-airfield emergency landing event. The pilot reported an emergency landing area in sight but evidence supports that he misjudged the chosen emergency landing area and overshot the field impacting trees on the FAR side.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT TRANSMITTED A "MAYDAY" CALL REPORTING A SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE; AIRCRAFT WAS AT 3,400 FEET MSL, NINE (9) MILES WEST OF BALDWIN COUNTY AIRPORT (MLJ). THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED 30-50 FOOT TREES APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AT THE EASTERN EDGE OF A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT WITH THE TREES AND BY THE ENSUING FIRE. NTSB ENGINE TEAR DOWN ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING UPON IMPACT WITH THE TREES; THE PILOT WAS DEALING WITH AN OFF-AIRFIELD EMERGENCY LANDING EVENT. THE PILOT REPORTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA IN SIGHT BUT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THAT HE MISJUDGED THE CHOSEN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND OVERSHOT THE FIELD IMPACTING TREES ON THE FAR SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.