What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
N936EW was cleared by bfl TRACON for the Porterville (ptv) vor-a approach. While on final course and approx .5 miles to the runway, the aircraft struck and crashed into a tree orchard. The aircraft suffered extensive substantial damage. The pilot and front seat passenger (a 8 yr boy) suffered serious, critical injuries. A third female passenger suffered moderate to severe injuries. The weather at the time as reported by ASOS (0935 LCL) was wind 300/4KTS; vis 1/2 mile; 200 ft ovc; temp:54; dewpoint 54. The pilot stated the he decided, at mda of 980' to initiate a missed approach, but the engine did not respond. The aircraft then descended and hit the trees. There was no fire; the fuel selector was set to the right tank, however, due to extensive wing damage, it could not be measured. There was a strong fuel odor at the scene. The engine and propeller exited the airframe and were located approx 40-50 feet from the aircraft. Curling of the propeller indicats the engine was at low powerand/or windmilling. Aircraft tach time / hobbs time was not available due to garmin 1000 installation which received substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
N936EW WAS CLEARED BY BFL TRACON FOR THE PORTERVILLE (PTV) VOR-A APPROACH. WHILE ON FINAL COURSE AND APPROX .5 MILES TO THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A TREE ORCHARD. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED EXTENSIVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER (A 8 YR BOY) SUFFERED SERIOUS, CRITICAL INJURIES. A THIRD FEMALE PASSENGER SUFFERED MODERATE TO SEVERE INJURIES. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME AS REPORTED BY ASOS (0935 LCL) WAS WIND 300/4KTS; VIS 1/2 MILE; 200 FT OVC; TEMP:54; DEWPOINT 54. THE PILOT STATED THE HE DECIDED, AT MDA OF 980' TO INITIATE A MISSED APPROACH, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED AND HIT THE TREES. THERE WAS NO FIRE; THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE RIGHT TANK, HOWEVER, DUE TO EXTENSIVE WING DAMAGE, IT COULD NOT BE MEASURED. THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR AT THE SCENE. THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER EXITED THE AIRFRAME AND WERE LOCATED APPROX 40-50 FEET FROM THE AIRCRAFT. CURLING OF THE PROPELLER INDICATS THE ENGINE WAS AT LOW POWERAND/OR WINDMILLING. AIRCRAFT TACH TIME / HOBBS TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO GARMIN 1000 INSTALLATION WHICH RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.