What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Airman departed the dsm airport for pleasure flight. Experienced loss of power while in flight approximately 3 miles west of the airport. He attempted an emergency landing on flat grassy field. Aircraft was on rollout when he encountered a dip in the field (gulch) approximately 20 feet deep with steep embankments. He attempted to glide across the ravine; however, the aircraft was not developing power and not able to glide across. Aircraft impacted the opposite bank approximately 5-7 feet below the crest. Aircraft sustained substantial damage. Passenger was uninjured; however, the pilot sustained serious injuries although not life threatening.
As the FAA filed it
AIRMAN DEPARTED THE DSM AIRPORT FOR PLEASURE FLIGHT. EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. HE ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON FLAT GRASSY FIELD. AIRCRAFT WAS ON ROLLOUT WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A DIP IN THE FIELD (GULCH) APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET DEEP WITH STEEP EMBANKMENTS. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE ACROSS THE RAVINE; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT DEVELOPING POWER AND NOT ABLE TO GLIDE ACROSS. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE OPPOSITE BANK APPROXIMATELY 5-7 FEET BELOW THE CREST. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED; HOWEVER, THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES ALTHOUGH NOT LIFE THREATENING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.