What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was departing from Owyhee Reservoir airport which is a gravel strip and canyon terrain. Pilot was using back pressure on yoke of aircraft (soft field take off) when aircraft was in ground effect. Pilot stated aircraft stayed in ground effect and was unable to build enough airspeed to establish a climb. At end of runway (32) terrain is steep and downward going into Owyhee Reservoir and said aircraft lost ground effect and stalled falling into Reservoir app 7500 into lake and sank.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS DEPARTING FROM OWYHEE RESERVOIR AIRPORT WHICH IS A GRAVEL STRIP AND CANYON TERRAIN. PILOT WAS USING BACK PRESSURE ON YOKE OF AIRCRAFT (SOFT FIELD TAKE OFF) WHEN AIRCRAFT WAS IN GROUND EFFECT. PILOT STATED AIRCRAFT STAYED IN GROUND EFFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO BUILD ENOUGH AIRSPEED TO ESTABLISH A CLIMB. AT END OF RUNWAY (32) TERRAIN IS STEEP AND DOWNWARD GOING INTO OWYHEE RESERVOIR AND SAID AIRCRAFT LOST GROUND EFFECT AND STALLED FALLING INTO RESERVOIR APP 7500 INTO LAKE AND SANK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.