What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The flight originated from calexico international airport (cxl), calexico, CA destined for torrance, CA (toa). The aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power (due to fuel exhaustion) on approach to the Orange County Airport (sna), santa ana, California. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane descended into estimated 3-feet-deep water, nosed over, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot and two passengers were killed. Dark nighttime visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
As the FAA filed it
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM CALEXICO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CXL), CALEXICO, CA DESTINED FOR TORRANCE, CA (TOA). THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER (DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION) ON APPROACH TO THE ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT (SNA), SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO ESTIMATED 3-FEET-DEEP WATER, NOSED OVER, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE KILLED. DARK NIGHTTIME VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED 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.