What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 12,2008, aircraft N7947M, a BE-35, was on a CFR part 91, IFR flight plan from (hts) enroute to (roc). The pilot had requested a higher altitude after stating, "can we try going up two or three hundred feet? I think we're right in the tops where we are." ATC cleared him to 9,000 feet MSL, tracking on a nroth-northeast course. At 1056 local time the pilot made his last known communication. At LL02, the aircraft made a 35 degree right turn to the east-northeast at 9,100 feet MSL. At 1103, the airplane made a left turn to the heading of north. The aircraft then entered a descending right spiral. During the next 40 seconds, the aircraft descended from 9,100 to 7,800 feet MSL. At 1104, the final radar return was recorded without any altitude information. Examination of the wreckage and debris path supports an in-flight breakup. The aircraft engine, propeller, and partial tail section were not recovered due to environmental conditions of heavy undergrowth, steep inclines, and body of water. Signs of post crash fire were not found. Aircraft salvage was moved to hillsboro, OH, for further examination by the NTSB repprivacy data omitted.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 12,2008, AIRCRAFT N7947M, A BE-35, WAS ON A CFR PART 91, IFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM (HTS) ENROUTE TO (ROC). THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED A HIGHER ALTITUDE AFTER STATING, "CAN WE TRY GOING UP TWO OR THREE HUNDRED FEET? I THINK WE'RE RIGHT IN THE TOPS WHERE WE ARE." ATC CLEARED HIM TO 9,000 FEET MSL, TRACKING ON A NROTH-NORTHEAST COURSE. AT 1056 LOCAL TIME THE PILOT MADE HIS LAST KNOWN COMMUNICATION. AT LL02, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A 35 DEGREE RIGHT TURN TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 9,100 FEET MSL. AT 1103, THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN TO THE HEADING OF NORTH. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A DESCENDING RIGHT SPIRAL. DURING THE NEXT 40 SECONDS, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED FROM 9,100 TO 7,800 FEET MSL. AT 1104, THE FINAL RADAR RETURN WAS RECORDED WITHOUT ANY ALTITUDE INFORMATION. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND DEBRIS PATH SUPPORTS AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE, PROPELLER, AND PARTIAL TAIL SECTION WERE NOT RECOVERED DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF HEAVY UNDERGROWTH, STEEP INCLINES, AND BODY OF WATER. SIGNS OF POST CRASH FIRE WERE NOT FOUND. AIRCRAFT SALVAGE WAS MOVED TO HILLSBORO, OH, FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION BY THE NTSB REP^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.