What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was returning to a private airstrip near Parkers Prairie, MN.
During the flight, he contacted his brother to verify that the airstrip had been plowed and was operational.
The pilot arrived in the Parkers Prairie area around 6:25PM, approximately one hour after official sunset.
Witnesses reported the aircraft over their property, just north of the accident site. They stated that the aircraft was very low and estimated it to be 30 above the ground.
They reported the engine sounded normal as it flew over their house. Shortly thereafter, they heard the engine "sputter" followed by the sound of a crash.
The aircraft impacted a plowed, snow covered field where it began to break apart and came to a rest in a grove of trees approximately 150 yards from the initial impact point. The pilot was fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS RETURNING TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR PARKERS PRAIRIE, MN.
DURING THE FLIGHT, HE CONTACTED HIS BROTHER TO VERIFY THAT THE AIRSTRIP HAD BEEN PLOWED AND WAS OPERATIONAL.
THE PILOT ARRIVED IN THE PARKERS PRAIRIE AREA AROUND 6:25PM, APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER OFFICIAL SUNSET.
WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT OVER THEIR PROPERTY, JUST NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THEY STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY LOW AND ESTIMATED IT TO BE 30 ABOVE THE GROUND.
THEY REPORTED THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AS IT FLEW OVER THEIR HOUSE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY HEARD THE ENGINE "SPUTTER" FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF A CRASH.
THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A PLOWED, SNOW COVERED FIELD WHERE IT BEGAN TO BREAK APART AND CAME TO A REST IN A GROVE OF TREES APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.