From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While transitioning from 8500' to 6500' 40 miles off shore from krsw airframe vibration started, pilot was unable to level off at 6500' and lost ability to maintain any altitude. Pilot declared emergency with krsw and advised that he would be landing in water near Sanibel Island. Pilot landed hard on water further damaging the aircraft flap and wing system. Investigation found that two thirds of the elevator had seperated from the aircraft causing the vibration and inability to maintain altitude.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE TRANSITIONING FROM 8500' TO 6500' 40 MILES OFF SHORE FROM KRSW AIRFRAME VIBRATION STARTED, PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LEVEL OFF AT 6500' AND LOST ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ANY ALTITUDE. PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY WITH KRSW AND ADVISED THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING IN WATER NEAR SANIBEL ISLAND. PILOT LANDED HARD ON WATER FURTHER DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT FLAP AND WING SYSTEM. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE ELEVATOR HAD SEPERATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE VIBRATION AND INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.