From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Airman was flying night VFR over mountainous terrain at 1500' AGL. Airman failed to maintain altitude. Aircraft received substantial damage when it descended and struck trees. The aircraft climbed and continued to fly to the nearest airport where it landed successfully.
As the FAA filed it
AIRMAN WAS FLYING NIGHT VFR OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 1500' AGL. AIRMAN FAILED TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT DESCENDED AND STRUCK TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED AND CONTINUED TO FLY TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT WHERE IT LANDED SUCCESSFULLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.