What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Departed runway 3 prior to sunrise and impacted trees to left of the centerline approximately 80 yards from the airport safety area. Pilot stated he fixated on the airspeed indicator, failed to scan the other instruments and the atitude indicator. He stated he lost visual reference to the ground due to darkness. When he realized he was in a left bank he corrected about the time he impacted trees.
As the FAA filed it
DEPARTED RUNWAY 3 PRIOR TO SUNRISE AND IMPACTED TREES TO LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE APPROXIMATELY 80 YARDS FROM THE AIRPORT SAFETY AREA. PILOT STATED HE FIXATED ON THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR, FAILED TO SCAN THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND THE ATITUDE INDICATOR. HE STATED HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE GROUND DUE TO DARKNESS. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS IN A LEFT BANK HE CORRECTED ABOUT THE TIME HE IMPACTED TREES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.