What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot reported that as the aircraft was climbing through 7000 MSL he heard a loud explosion and a metal grinding sound and felt the prop shudder. Descended to 5000 MSL, leveled aircraft and after reducing speed to 80 knots, advised parachutists onboard(14 each) to exit the aircraft. Pilot then proceeded north to land on runway 18 (due to highway and obstacle considerations) and reported to indianapolis approach to advise of major engine problems. Pilot reported that oil spray on the windshield had completely obstructed his outside view. When flap extension was attempted (at 120 knots) in order to set up for landing, pilot reported that after minimal extension the flap circuit breaker popped. After reset it immediately popped again. At this point, the prop was fully feathered and no further flap extension was attempted. Aircraft overhsot the runway, briefly gained a few feet of altitude then touched down in a cornfied beyond the runway with the left wing low. Aircraft came to rest in an inverted position.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 7000 MSL HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND A METAL GRINDING SOUND AND FELT THE PROP SHUDDER. DESCENDED TO 5000 MSL, LEVELED AIRCRAFT AND AFTER REDUCING SPEED TO 80 KNOTS, ADVISED PARACHUTISTS ONBOARD(14 EACH) TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT THEN PROCEEDED NORTH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 18 (DUE TO HIGHWAY AND OBSTACLE CONSIDERATIONS) AND REPORTED TO INDIANAPOLIS APPROACH TO ADVISE OF MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. PILOT REPORTED THAT OIL SPRAY ON THE WINDSHIELD HAD COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED HIS OUTSIDE VIEW. WHEN FLAP EXTENSION WAS ATTEMPTED (AT 120 KNOTS) IN ORDER TO SET UP FOR LANDING, PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER MINIMAL EXTENSION THE FLAP CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED. AFTER RESET IT IMMEDIATELY POPPED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, THE PROP WAS FULLY FEATHERED AND NO FURTHER FLAP EXTENSION WAS ATTEMPTED. AIRCRAFT OVERHSOT THE RUNWAY, BRIEFLY GAINED A FEW FEET OF ALTITUDE THEN TOUCHED DOWN IN A CORNFIED BEYOND THE RUNWAY WITH THE LEFT WING LOW. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.