What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 04/20/2017, at approximately 06:58PM local time, aircraft N9975D took off on runway 17 at Kernville airport (L05) for a local flight. Shortly after takeoff, while attempting to climb out, the aircraft stopped climbing at approximately seventy five feet AGL and slowly started to settle back towards the ground. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude, struck a large tree and subsequently impacted the ground. The aircraft impacted the ground at approximately a forty five degree nose down angle, flipped onto its back and came to rest inverted. All three occupants exited the aircraft and contacted 911 for assistance.
As the FAA filed it
ON 04/20/2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 06:58PM LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT N9975D TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 17 AT KERNVILLE AIRPORT (L05) FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB OUT, THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED CLIMBING AT APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY FIVE FEET AGL AND SLOWLY STARTED TO SETTLE BACK TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, STRUCK A LARGE TREE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY A FORTY FIVE DEGREE NOSE DOWN ANGLE, FLIPPED ONTO ITS BACK AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CONTACTED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N9975D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.