What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) South Lake Tahoe Airport is situated at an elevation of 6264 ft. with a temperature 79 degrees f, the density altitude was approximately 8691 ft, seconds after lifting off from runway 18, the Cessna entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted terrain adjacent to the airport. A witness reported that during this time, the airplane was in an unusually high nose up pitch attitude. No evidence of smoke was observed trailing from the airplane. The accident airplane turned left and appeared to enter a left spin as it rapidly descended from his view. The witness also reported hearing the accident pilot broadcast a "mayday" call seconds prior to the crash.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT IS SITUATED AT AN ELEVATION OF 6264 FT. WITH A TEMPERATURE 79 DEGREES F, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8691 FT, SECONDS AFTER LIFTING OFF FROM RUNWAY 18, THE CESSNA ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND IMPACTED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT DURING THIS TIME, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NOSE UP PITCH ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE OF SMOKE WAS OBSERVED TRAILING FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE TURNED LEFT AND APPEARED TO ENTER A LEFT SPIN AS IT RAPIDLY DESCENDED FROM HIS VIEW. THE WITNESS ALSO REPORTED HEARING THE ACCIDENT PILOT BROADCAST A "MAYDAY" CALL SECONDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.