What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 28, 2015, pilot checked the fuel quantity indicators as part of his pre-flight and saw he had about a quarter tank of fuel. Pilot did not visually check the fuel tanks. Pilot took off and flew around the local area for about 45 minutes. Pilot was returning to the airport when his engine sputtered and died. Pilot could not restart the aircraft and decided to land in a field. During his flare gusty winds shifted and aircraft lost lift causing it to hit the ground hard and causing significant airframe and breaking many of the supporting metal tubular structure that are part of the airframe, landing gear and firewall. Pilot was uninjured.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 28, 2015, PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS AS PART OF HIS PRE-FLIGHT AND SAW HE HAD ABOUT A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL. PILOT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANKS. PILOT TOOK OFF AND FLEW AROUND THE LOCAL AREA FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. PILOT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT WHEN HIS ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED. PILOT COULD NOT RESTART THE AIRCRAFT AND DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD. DURING HIS FLARE GUSTY WINDS SHIFTED AND AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT CAUSING IT TO HIT THE GROUND HARD AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT AIRFRAME AND BREAKING MANY OF THE SUPPORTING METAL TUBULAR STRUCTURE THAT ARE PART OF THE AIRFRAME, LANDING GEAR AND FIREWALL. PILOT WAS UNINJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.