What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On December 12, 2007 at 0439Z the pilot advised ATC that he needed vectors to the nearest airport. The pilot advised that he was at cruise altitude of 8500 feet MSL and had lost engine power. The controller provided vectors to Phillipsburg municipal airport (phg) along with airport information, including airport lighting activation information. At 0444Z the pilot reported that he had airport lights on and thought he could make the airport. The aircraft landed about one mile southwest of the airport, striking trees and coming to rest on a snow-covered creek embankment. A post-impact fire resulted from the aircraft breaking apart in the trees. The pilot suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns while the passenger sustained minor burns. The pilot's dog perished in the fire. The pilot was able to use his cell phone to call for emergency assistance. Both occupants were taken to a wichita hospital via air ambulance.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON DECEMBER 12, 2007 AT 0439Z THE PILOT ADVISED ATC THAT HE NEEDED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE PILOT ADVISED THAT HE WAS AT CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 8500 FEET MSL AND HAD LOST ENGINE POWER. THE CONTROLLER PROVIDED VECTORS TO PHILLIPSBURG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (PHG) ALONG WITH AIRPORT INFORMATION, INCLUDING AIRPORT LIGHTING ACTIVATION INFORMATION. AT 0444Z THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD AIRPORT LIGHTS ON AND THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ABOUT ONE MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT, STRIKING TREES AND COMING TO REST ON A SNOW-COVERED CREEK EMBANKMENT. A POST-IMPACT FIRE RESULTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT BREAKING APART IN THE TREES. THE PILOT SUFFERED 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS WHILE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS. THE PILOT'S DOG PERISHED IN THE FIRE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO USE HIS CELL PHONE TO CALL FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE TAKEN TO A WICHITA HOSPITAL VIA AIR AMBULANCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.