What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft N351E was at approximately 5000' MSL when the aircraft engine began to sputter and lose airspeed and altitude. PIC made the decision to land on highway 400 s. aircraft hit hard on left gear and left wing to avoid traffic. Left hand main wheel axle broke off and pilot was able to raise the aircraft and retract gears to belly slide the aircraft to a stop in center medium of highway.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT N351E WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 5000' MSL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. PIC MADE THE DECISION TO LAND ON HIGHWAY 400 S. AIRCRAFT HIT HARD ON LEFT GEAR AND LEFT WING TO AVOID TRAFFIC. LEFT HAND MAIN WHEEL AXLE BROKE OFF AND PILOT WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE AIRCRAFT AND RETRACT GEARS TO BELLY SLIDE THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP IN CENTER MEDIUM OF HIGHWAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.