What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 07/02/2008, 1305 PST while performing oil pipe line inspections a Cessna 152, N25490 struck terrain and burned. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. VFR conditions were reported by pilots located at santa paula airport at the time of the accident. Witnesses stated they could see the pilot's face and that the aircraft was flying very low and slow though out the area prior to the aircraft impacting the ground. The aircraft impacted the ground near a street maintenance crew performing excavation work on the street near the pipe line the subject aircraft was inspecting.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 07/02/2008, 1305 PST WHILE PERFORMING OIL PIPE LINE INSPECTIONS A CESSNA 152, N25490 STRUCK TERRAIN AND BURNED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. VFR CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED BY PILOTS LOCATED AT SANTA PAULA AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES STATED THEY COULD SEE THE PILOT'S FACE AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING VERY LOW AND SLOW THOUGH OUT THE AREA PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND NEAR A STREET MAINTENANCE CREW PERFORMING EXCAVATION WORK ON THE STREET NEAR THE PIPE LINE THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.