What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot and 3 passengers were doing aerial survey for Florida fish and wildlife. The aircraft was over the everglades somewhere between I-75, alligator alley, and state hwy 27 at a 40 feet AGL hover and the pilot hovered sideways to get closer to a patch of trees to see if they were above the waterline. When the aircraft started to descend the pilot attempted to regain altitude by increasing power but was unable and the aircraft struck the ground the trees resulting in major damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT AND 3 PASSENGERS WERE DOING AERIAL SURVEY FOR FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE EVERGLADES SOMEWHERE BETWEEN I-75, ALLIGATOR ALLEY, AND STATE HWY 27 AT A 40 FEET AGL HOVER AND THE PILOT HOVERED SIDEWAYS TO GET CLOSER TO A PATCH OF TREES TO SEE IF THEY WERE ABOVE THE WATERLINE. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESCEND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ALTITUDE BY INCREASING POWER BUT WAS UNABLE AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND THE TREES RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.