What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Airman traveled to an unimproved strip near shulin lake on 05/29/2016. At approximately 1020 the pilot reported that he was on short final (conventional gear airplane) and thought he had cleared the trees, however the propeller impacted a tree branch. The airplane nose dived, and impacted terrain causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot reported that he misjudged it and that it was his fault. Injuries were initially reported as a serious, however it was confirmed that this was instead a sprained ankle. Passenger and pilot sustained minor injuries (facial lacerations).
As the FAA filed it
AIRMAN TRAVELED TO AN UNIMPROVED STRIP NEAR SHULIN LAKE ON 05/29/2016. AT APPROXIMATELY 1020 THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL (CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE) AND THOUGHT HE HAD CLEARED THE TREES, HOWEVER THE PROPELLER IMPACTED A TREE BRANCH. THE AIRPLANE NOSE DIVED, AND IMPACTED TERRAIN CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MISJUDGED IT AND THAT IT WAS HIS FAULT. INJURIES WERE INITIALLY REPORTED AS A SERIOUS, HOWEVER IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS INSTEAD A SPRAINED ANKLE. PASSENGER AND PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (FACIAL LACERATIONS).
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.