What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft departed Catalina airport, CA (kavx) at approximately 16:39 PST enroute to john wayne, CA (ksna). Shortly after takeoff, aircraft impacted ground near Mt. Orizaba at approximately 16:42 PST. Post impact fire consumed major portion of fuselage area. Preliminary aircraft examination shows engine was developing power at time of impact. Prevailing weather at kavx at the time of departure was wind 210 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots, visibility ¾ sm and mist, 200 feet broken and 700 feet overcast ceiling. (Continued) pilot received standard IFR weather briefing and filed an IFR flight plan at approximately 15:35 PST. Pilot did not open IFR flight plan.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED CATALINA AIRPORT, CA (KAVX) AT APPROXIMATELY 16:39 PST ENROUTE TO JOHN WAYNE, CA (KSNA). SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND NEAR MT. ORIZABA AT APPROXIMATELY 16:42 PST. POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED MAJOR PORTION OF FUSELAGE AREA. PRELIMINARY AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION SHOWS ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING POWER AT TIME OF IMPACT. PREVAILING WEATHER AT KAVX AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS WIND 210 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 23 KNOTS, VISIBILITY ¾ SM AND MIST, 200 FEET BROKEN AND 700 FEET OVERCAST CEILING. (CONTINUED) PILOT RECEIVED STANDARD IFR WEATHER BRIEFING AND FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AT APPROXIMATELY 15:35 PST. PILOT DID NOT OPEN IFR FLIGHT PLAN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.