What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 8, 2009 at approximately 0945 CDT a Schempp-hirth ventus CM2 powered glider , N70ZZ, registered to a private owner, impacted hard while returning to land following a reported partial engine power loss during the initial takeoff climb from St. Elmo, AL (2R5). Visual meteorlogical conditions prevailed at the time of the 14 CFR part 91 flight, no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the sole occupant received minor injuries. Pilot did not sump tank prior to flight. The pilot claimed to have seen a substantial mag drop on takeoff roll but decided to continue even though there was a noticeable loss of power. After a long take-off role he became airborne and decided to return to the airport and stalled the glider, he was unable to make the runway and crashed .3 miles away from the airport.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 8, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 CDT A SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS CM2 POWERED GLIDER , N70ZZ, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER, IMPACTED HARD WHILE RETURNING TO LAND FOLLOWING A REPORTED PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM ST. ELMO, AL (2R5). VISUAL METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT, NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE SOLE OCCUPANT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. PILOT DID NOT SUMP TANK PRIOR TO FLIGHT.THE PILOT CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN A SUBSTANTIAL MAG DROP ON TAKEOFF ROLL BUT DECIDED TO CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER. AFTER A LONG TAKE-OFF ROLE HE BECAME AIRBORNE AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND STALLED THE GLIDER, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED .3 MILES AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.