What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot stated during cruise flight a large bird struck and broke the windshield, which made the aircraft dificult to control. Pilot made an emergency landing in a large grass field. During FAA post accident investigation it was noted the aircraft sustained major damage to the landing gear, engine mounts and engine compartment. There was no evidence of a bird striking the windshield, no sign of feathers blood, or bird remains which would indicate a bird strike. The fuel tank appeared to be empty. You could see the bottom of the tank which was dry.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT STATED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT A LARGE BIRD STRUCK AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH MADE THE AIRCRAFT DIFICULT TO CONTROL. PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A LARGE GRASS FIELD. DURING FAA POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION IT WAS NOTED THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, ENGINE MOUNTS AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD, NO SIGN OF FEATHERS BLOOD, OR BIRD REMAINS WHICH WOULD INDICATE A BIRD STRIKE. THE FUEL TANK APPEARED TO BE EMPTY. YOU COULD SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK WHICH WAS DRY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.