What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
This amateur kit-built experimental aircraft was being operated during the phase I test flight period when the engine quit during cruise flight. A witness on the ground stated that the engine sputtered briefly before quitting completely. This was confirmed by the pilot. The pilot stated that he turned on the fuel boost pump, but did not have enough time to attempt to restart the engine. A dirt airfield was nearby where the pilot attempted to land, but was unable to make it to the strip. When the aircraft was landed short of the airfield, it passed through a wire fence and sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and right elevator. The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft was not injured.
As the FAA filed it
THIS AMATEUR KIT-BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED DURING THE PHASE I TEST FLIGHT PERIOD WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED BRIEFLY BEFORE QUITTING COMPLETELY. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE PILOT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. A DIRT AIRFIELD WAS NEARBY WHERE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE STRIP. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED SHORT OF THE AIRFIELD, IT PASSED THROUGH A WIRE FENCE AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND RIGHT ELEVATOR. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.