What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While enroute from rir to O22, aircraft experienced possible engine problem and successfully landed in an open field area in the southeast section of Bakersfield, CA. Statements from the passenger and from a witness stated there was an issue concerning the selection of the proper fueled wing tank. Per statements from the passenger and witness, maintenance was performed on the fuel selector valve. Upon completion of maintenance, the aircraft departed from the open field area to the west. On climb out, the aircraft performed a turn to the left (southerly heading) and witness stated the engine started to make sputtering sounds. Witness stated the aircraft immediately turned back to the open field but during the turn back, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and the left wing struck the ground. Aircraft was destroyed on impact.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE ENROUTE FROM RIR TO O22, AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM AND SUCCESSFULLY LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD AREA IN THE SOUTHEAST SECTION OF BAKERSFIELD, CA. STATEMENTS FROM THE PASSENGER AND FROM A WITNESS STATED THERE WAS AN ISSUE CONCERNING THE SELECTION OF THE PROPER FUELED WING TANK. PER STATEMENTS FROM THE PASSENGER AND WITNESS, MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. UPON COMPLETION OF MAINTENANCE, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM THE OPEN FIELD AREA TO THE WEST. ON CLIMB OUT, THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMED A TURN TO THE LEFT (SOUTHERLY HEADING) AND WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE SPUTTERING SOUNDS. WITNESS STATED THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK TO THE OPEN FIELD BUT DURING THE TURN BACK, THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY LOST ALTITUDE AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.