What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft departed wasilla (paws) at approximately 1700 on 03/15/2017 on a part 91 flight to Nome (ome). Pilot was the sole occupant. No flight service station (fss) flight plan was filed. Witness reports say aircraft circled the airport 4 times, and then departed the area to the east.
Aircraft reported overdue by fiancÉ early 03/06.
Alaska state troopers (ast) found wreckage approximately 9 miles south east of Nome along shoreline approximately 100 yards off shore on the sea ice. Aircraft was destroyed, after what appears to be a low speed, wings level, high angle impact. Pilot was killed on impact.
On-board GPS flight data, interviews and on-site investigation indicate fuel exhaustion was a factor.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WASILLA (PAWS) AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 ON 03/15/2017 ON A PART 91 FLIGHT TO NOME (OME). PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT. NO FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. WITNESS REPORTS SAY AIRCRAFT CIRCLED THE AIRPORT 4 TIMES, AND THEN DEPARTED THE AREA TO THE EAST.
AIRCRAFT REPORTED OVERDUE BY FIANCÉ EARLY 03/06.
ALASKA STATE TROOPERS (AST) FOUND WRECKAGE APPROXIMATELY 9 MILES SOUTH EAST OF NOME ALONG SHORELINE APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS OFF SHORE ON THE SEA ICE. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AFTER WHAT APPEARS TO BE A LOW SPEED, WINGS LEVEL, HIGH ANGLE IMPACT. PILOT WAS KILLED ON IMPACT.
ON-BOARD GPS FLIGHT DATA, INTERVIEWS AND ON-SITE INVESTIGATION INDICATE FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS A FACTOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.