What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
PIC took off from a small clearing between the bushes on the desert floor. After rotation, while still in ground effect the aircraft failed to clear bushes. The aircraft struck the ground and came to rest in a depression. Due to side loading of the landing gear, the landing gear collapsed. Aircraft sustained substantial damage. No injuries to pilot or passenger.
PIC was cooperative with both the NTSB and FAA investigators.
As the FAA filed it
PIC TOOK OFF FROM A SMALL CLEARING BETWEEN THE BUSHES ON THE DESERT FLOOR. AFTER ROTATION, WHILE STILL IN GROUND EFFECT THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO CLEAR BUSHES. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST IN A DEPRESSION. DUE TO SIDE LOADING OF THE LANDING GEAR, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGER.
PIC WAS COOPERATIVE WITH BOTH THE NTSB AND FAA INVESTIGATORS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.