What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 20, 2014 at approximately 2330 hrs the sel rated pilot and one passenger(holding a student pilot certificate) departed the 8800 x 100 foot, 7010 elevation, paved runway 23 at Saratoga, WY under VMC weather and very dark night conditions. The aircraft made a slight left turn and impacted the ground approximately one quarter mile south of runway 23. The first impact at a heading of 240 degrees was the right wingtip followed by the two propeller strikes, nosewheel strike and finally a nose down impact with the aircraft coming to rest belly to the ground at a 214 degree heading. Both occupants suffered fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. There was a small post crash fire under the engine which self extinguished.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 2330 HRS THE SEL RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER(HOLDING A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE) DEPARTED THE 8800 X 100 FOOT, 7010 ELEVATION, PAVED RUNWAY 23 AT SARATOGA, WY UNDER VMC WEATHER AND VERY DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SLIGHT LEFT TURN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF RUNWAY 23. THE FIRST IMPACT AT A HEADING OF 240 DEGREES WAS THE RIGHT WINGTIP FOLLOWED BY THE TWO PROPELLER STRIKES, NOSEWHEEL STRIKE AND FINALLY A NOSE DOWN IMPACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO REST BELLY TO THE GROUND AT A 214 DEGREE HEADING. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS A SMALL POST CRASH FIRE UNDER THE ENGINE WHICH SELF EXTINGUISHED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N4618J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.