What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During descent for landing at Borrego Springs, CA, the aircraft hit the top of a ridge approximately 40 to 50 feet below the crest of the ridge and 200-300 yards further along the flight path. Conditions were VMC and although the moon was nearly full, at the time of the accident, the sun had set and the moon had not yet come up. The landing gear was extended. The medical examiner's office indicated that, although the pilot had a history of heart disease, it seemed that he was at the controls at the time of the accident. Initial examination of the wreckage indicated that the engine was running at the time of impact. Circumstance seems to be consistent with controlled flight into terrain.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING DESCENT FOR LANDING AT BORREGO SPRINGS, CA, THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOP OF A RIDGE APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 FEET BELOW THE CREST OF THE RIDGE AND 200-300 YARDS FURTHER ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH. CONDITIONS WERE VMC AND ALTHOUGH THE MOON WAS NEARLY FULL, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE SUN HAD SET AND THE MOON HAD NOT YET COME UP. THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE INDICATED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE, IT SEEMED THAT HE WAS AT THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. CIRCUMSTANCE SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.