What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 19, 2012, at approximately 1320 CST, a BD-4 (experimental amateur-built) crashed about 1.5 miles southwest of the Clarinda Iowa airport (icl). According to a witness, the aircraft was heading southwest and made a 180 degree turn toward the airport and appeared to be heading straight toward the ground. The aircraft came to rest in an open field, and was completely destroyed. Due to impact forces, both wings separated and were located approximately 60 yards northeast of the main wreckage. The propeller was buried in the ground, and only the tail was still intact. No mechanical issues were discovered during the investigation. The pilot was the only occupant of the aircraft, and he was fatally injured in the mishap.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 19, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 1320 CST, A BD-4 (EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT) CRASHED ABOUT 1.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE CLARINDA IOWA AIRPORT (ICL). ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING SOUTHWEST AND MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TOWARD THE AIRPORT AND APPEARED TO BE HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARD THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DUE TO IMPACT FORCES, BOTH WINGS SEPARATED AND WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 60 YARDS NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE PROPELLER WAS BURIED IN THE GROUND, AND ONLY THE TAIL WAS STILL INTACT. NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND HE WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE MISHAP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.