What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was seen departing Yellow Pine, (3U2) on June 14, 2007 at 0910. According to the passenger and lone survivor of the flight, the aircraft crashed a short time later about 7 miles nw of the departure airport. The pilot operated his aircraft into the wrong drainage and didn't recognize it until the terrain was climbing faster than the ability of his aircraft. The aircraft crashed into rocks and trees on the side of a mountain. The couple were not missed until June 16, 2006. A search was started and the wreckage was found on June 17, 2007. The passenger suffered minor injuries but the pilot received fatal injuries. During the post crash investigation, it was discovered that the ELT, an ebc model 102A, had never activated. The switch was in the arm position and the battery checked ok. The ELT was mounted on the pilot side door frame aft of the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN DEPARTING YELLOW PINE, (3U2) ON JUNE 14, 2007 AT 0910. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER AND LONE SURVIVOR OF THE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED A SHORT TIME LATER ABOUT 7 MILES NW OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE PILOT OPERATED HIS AIRCRAFT INTO THE WRONG DRAINAGE AND DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT UNTIL THE TERRAIN WAS CLIMBING FASTER THAN THE ABILITY OF HIS AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO ROCKS AND TREES ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. THE COUPLE WERE NOT MISSED UNTIL JUNE 16, 2006. A SEARCH WAS STARTED AND THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON JUNE 17, 2007. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES BUT THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. DURING THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELT, AN EBC MODEL 102A, HAD NEVER ACTIVATED. THE SWITCH WAS IN THE ARM POSITION AND THE BATTERY CHECKED OK. THE ELT WAS MOUNTED ON THE PILOT SIDE DOOR FRAME AFT OF THE PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.