What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated that this was the first flight after installation of a new engine. Pilot stated that on takeoff from runway 26 the airspeed indicator failed. Pilot felt that there was insufficient runway available to land straight ahead. Pilot felt that the engine was developing normal power. Based on his experience with the aircraft using known power settings, the pilot elected to fly a normal traffic pattern and return to land. Pilot started to left turn to the crosswind leg. Pilot stated the aircraft started porpising and became difficult to control, "possibly an incipient stall". Aircraft pitched down and impacted the ground in a swamp approximately 600' south of the runway. Pilot was knocked unconcious. When he came to, the engine, electrical system and fuel had been turned off by personnel responding to the accident. There were no impact marks as the area was covered with approximately 12 inches of water. Aircraft impacted in a left wing low, 45 degree nose down angle.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER INSTALLATION OF A NEW ENGINE. PILOT STATED THAT ON TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 26 THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR FAILED. PILOT FELT THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY AVAILABLE TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. PILOT FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING NORMAL POWER. BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT USING KNOWN POWER SETTINGS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AND RETURN TO LAND. PILOT STARTED TO LEFT TURN TO THE CROSSWIND LEG. PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT STARTED PORPISING AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, "POSSIBLY AN INCIPIENT STALL". AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A SWAMP APPROXIMATELY 600' SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT WAS KNOCKED UNCONCIOUS. WHEN HE CAME TO, THE ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FUEL HAD BEEN TURNED OFF BY PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO IMPACT MARKS AS THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES OF WATER. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A LEFT WING LOW, 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ANGLE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N20GH · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.