What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 27, 2009, a Cessna 172M, N9884Q, departed spartenburg, SC (spa) at 9:51 am and was operating as a pipline patrol observation airplane. At 800 feel of altitude and approximately 8 miles southeast of cheraw airport, south carolina, the engine started running rough and losing power. The pilot tried to fly to the nearest airport, but had to make an emergency landing in a field of shrub oaks at 10:45AM. The pilot observer received minor injuries and there was no fire. The aircraft substained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 27, 2009, A CESSNA 172M, N9884Q, DEPARTED SPARTENBURG, SC (SPA) AT 9:51 AM AND WAS OPERATING AS A PIPLINE PATROL OBSERVATION AIRPLANE. AT 800 FEEL OF ALTITUDE AND APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHERAW AIRPORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND LOSING POWER. THE PILOT TRIED TO FLY TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, BUT HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD OF SHRUB OAKS AT 10:45AM. THE PILOT OBSERVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSTAINED 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.