What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
According to pilot: following takeoff from runway 35 and at approximately 300 ft AGL, pilot began to reduce RPM from 2700 (maximum continuous) to 2400 (climb setting). Instead of stopping at 2400 RPM as set, the propeller RPM continued to decrease and the airspeed began to drop. Pilot initiated a turn to return to the airport for landing. During the turn, the pilot noticed the airspeed had dropped to 65 mph and that he has lost approximately 100-150 ft in altitude. Pilot decided to level the wings and make an off-airport landing. During the approach the aircraft flew through and broke the lowest line from a set of power lines. During the landing the airplane contacted two irrigation ditches and a fence, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The left wingtip came into contact with the ground, causing substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
ACCORDING TO PILOT: FOLLOWING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 35 AND AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL, PILOT BEGAN TO REDUCE RPM FROM 2700 (MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS) TO 2400 (CLIMB SETTING). INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT 2400 RPM AS SET, THE PROPELLER RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DROP. PILOT INITIATED A TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. DURING THE TURN, THE PILOT NOTICED THE AIRSPEED HAD DROPPED TO 65 MPH AND THAT HE HAS LOST APPROXIMATELY 100-150 FT IN ALTITUDE. PILOT DECIDED TO LEVEL THE WINGS AND MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT FLEW THROUGH AND BROKE THE LOWEST LINE FROM A SET OF POWER LINES. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TWO IRRIGATION DITCHES AND A FENCE, CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE LEFT WINGTIP CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.