What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The passenger stated they took off & were climbing out. The engine sounded funny. Some adjustments were made and the plane crashed.
The plane didn't sound smooth as it usually does.
My husband is john murphy.
He was not drinking or using any drugs.
The pilot stated I am a licensed pilot.
I was involved in an air plane crash.
It was a normal takeoff from Winter Haven Airport.
When we climbed to about three hundred feet my wife told me she smelled fuel.
We lost power to the engine and began to descend.
The plane hit a tree and we regained power but were already crashing.
I was flying at the time but my wife is also a pilot with certification and a medical certificate.
I was not taking any drugs or alcohol.
I was taking my diabetes medication.
I did not smell the fumes my wife smelled.
I did a mag check and everything else I was supposed to do before taking off.
I don't have any idea what could have caused the accident.
I am a certified mechanic.
I have worked on the plane extensively since we have had it.
I have about 7,000 hours flying.
As the FAA filed it
THE PASSENGER STATED THEY TOOK OFF & WERE CLIMBING OUT. THE ENGINE SOUNDED FUNNY. SOME ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE AND THE PLANE CRASHED.
THE PLANE DIDN'T SOUND SMOOTH AS IT USUALLY DOES.
MY HUSBAND IS JOHN MURPHY.
HE WAS NOT DRINKING OR USING ANY DRUGS.
THE PILOT STATED I AM A LICENSED PILOT.
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AIR PLANE CRASH.
IT WAS A NORMAL TAKEOFF FROM WINTER HAVEN AIRPORT.
WHEN WE CLIMBED TO ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE SMELLED FUEL.
WE LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE AND BEGAN TO DESCEND.
THE PLANE HIT A TREE AND WE REGAINED POWER BUT WERE ALREADY CRASHING.
I WAS FLYING AT THE TIME BUT MY WIFE IS ALSO A PILOT WITH CERTIFICATION AND A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
I WAS NOT TAKING ANY DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
I WAS TAKING MY DIABETES MEDICATION.
I DID NOT SMELL THE FUMES MY WIFE SMELLED.
I DID A MAG CHECK AND EVERYTHING ELSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO BEFORE TAKING OFF.
I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.
I AM A CERTIFIED MECHANIC.
I HAVE WORKED ON THE PLANE EXTENSIVELY SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT.
I HAVE ABOUT 7,000 HOURS FLYING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.