What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
A witness stated that he spotted the aircraft on a base leg for runway 28. The winds were gusting out of the southwest 10 to 20 knots from around 220°. The witness stated that it looked like the plane continued north beyond the center-line for runway 28 and was decending. At this point the plane attempted to execute a 45 to 60 degree left turn to final but as soon as the plane entered the turn, it immediately nose-dive downward at a high rate of speed. Another witness stated that a twin engine Cessna was departing runway 28 at the time of the accident.
As the FAA filed it
A WITNESS STATED THAT HE SPOTTED THE AIRCRAFT ON A BASE LEG FOR RUNWAY 28. THE WINDS WERE GUSTING OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 KNOTS FROM AROUND 220°. THE WITNESS STATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PLANE CONTINUED NORTH BEYOND THE CENTER-LINE FOR RUNWAY 28 AND WAS DECENDING. AT THIS POINT THE PLANE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A 45 TO 60 DEGREE LEFT TURN TO FINAL BUT AS SOON AS THE PLANE ENTERED THE TURN, IT IMMEDIATELY NOSE-DIVE DOWNWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT A TWIN ENGINE CESSNA WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 28 AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.