What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Subsequent to takeoff from a dry lake bed with an aero tow, the pilot intentionally released at about 1500 feet AGL. The pilot stated that he was unable to obtain the lift needed to clear the terrain and proceed to his destination airport (NV23) located about 10 miles away. An emergency landing was initiated; however, during touchdown, the left wing tip contacted the ground with a subsequent ground loop. During the ground loop, the empennage failed near the vertical and horizontal stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
SUBSEQUENT TO TAKEOFF FROM A DRY LAKE BED WITH AN AERO TOW, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY RELEASED AT ABOUT 1500 FEET AGL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE LIFT NEEDED TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN AND PROCEED TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT (NV23) LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS INITIATED; HOWEVER, DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND WITH A SUBSEQUENT GROUND LOOP. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE EMPENNAGE FAILED NEAR THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.