What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 4, 2015 at approximately 16:00 hours, a 2004 Raytheon A36, N349EA sustained substantial damage following a loss of altitude and impacting the ground.
The pilot reported to ATC that he had lost his autopilot. The aircraft was observed entering a tight series of turns accompanied by altitude and speed fluxuations.
The aircraft lost altitude, impacted the ground right wing low, bounced once and came to rest in a group of previously cut trees.
The private pilot was the only occupant of the aircraft and was seriously injured.
The aircraft is registered to black gold aviation LLC of norris city, IL.
The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR, part 91.
Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Light snow and fog reported in the vicinity.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 4, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 16:00 HOURS, A 2004 RAYTHEON A36, N349EA SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND IMPACTING THE GROUND.
THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE HAD LOST HIS AUTOPILOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED ENTERING A TIGHT SERIES OF TURNS ACCOMPANIED BY ALTITUDE AND SPEED FLUXUATIONS.
THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE, IMPACTED THE GROUND RIGHT WING LOW, BOUNCED ONCE AND CAME TO REST IN A GROUP OF PREVIOUSLY CUT TREES.
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
THE AIRCRAFT IS REGISTERED TO BLACK GOLD AVIATION LLC OF NORRIS CITY, IL.
THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR, PART 91.
INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. LIGHT SNOW AND FOG REPORTED IN THE VICINITY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.