What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The non certificated pilot reported that after completing his pre-takeoff checklist, he taxied onto runway 30, and proceeded to takeoff. He stated that he lifted off normally and climbed to about 300 feet above ground level. As the airplane neared the departure end of the runway, the engine seemed to partially lose power. The pilot turned the airplane slightly to the left to avoid a concrete plant, and initiated a forced landing to the southern edge of the delta-mendota canal. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on the northern side of the canal and slid into the water. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane as it became submerged underwater.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE NON CERTIFICATED PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER COMPLETING HIS PRE-TAKEOFF CHECKLIST, HE TAXIED ONTO RUNWAY 30, AND PROCEEDED TO TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT HE LIFTED OFF NORMALLY AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO PARTIALLY LOSE POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A CONCRETE PLANT, AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE CANAL AND SLID INTO THE WATER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE AS IT BECAME SUBMERGED UNDERWATER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.