What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Witness saw an airplane (navigation lights) fly into to the gulf of Mexico. The pilot had mentioned to the dispatcher where he rented the aircraft that he was going to get night current. He took off on the northwest runway and appeared to be in the traffic pattern where the airplane crashed. Investigation of the aircraft revealed that the engine and aircraft were performing as normal.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WITNESS SAW AN AIRPLANE (NAVIGATION LIGHTS) FLY INTO TO THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE PILOT HAD MENTIONED TO THE DISPATCHER WHERE HE RENTED THE AIRCRAFT THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET NIGHT CURRENT. HE TOOK OFF ON THE NORTHWEST RUNWAY AND APPEARED TO BE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WHERE THE AIRPLANE CRASHED. INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT WERE PERFORMING AS NORMAL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.