What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 1st airman mark ukaere flew with his instructor and practiced holding and approaches at X51 and tmb. After landing, the instructor ^(job wachira)^ left mark at the plane and subsequently left the airport for the day. Mark had the plane booked all day and decided to go fly again to practice his instrument training. He attempted to have someone fly with him to no avail. Mark flew the plane on a training flight alone, practicing holding and approaches. He landed at approximately 2015 UTC , was refueled at 2029 and departed 2052 UTC to the southwest. Radar data shows the aircraft in holding at the iaf "homlu" west of X51. The last radar target was at 2118 UTC at an altitude of 950'.
During the investigation, NTSB conversations with the deceased girlfriend revealed that the airman was on the cell phone video chatting from 2005 UTC up to 2112 UTC (just before impact).
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 1ST AIRMAN MARK UKAERE FLEW WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR AND PRACTICED HOLDING AND APPROACHES AT X51 AND TMB. AFTER LANDING, THE INSTRUCTOR ^(JOB WACHIRA)^ LEFT MARK AT THE PLANE AND SUBSEQUENTLY LEFT THE AIRPORT FOR THE DAY. MARK HAD THE PLANE BOOKED ALL DAY AND DECIDED TO GO FLY AGAIN TO PRACTICE HIS INSTRUMENT TRAINING. HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE SOMEONE FLY WITH HIM TO NO AVAIL. MARK FLEW THE PLANE ON A TRAINING FLIGHT ALONE, PRACTICING HOLDING AND APPROACHES. HE LANDED AT APPROXIMATELY 2015 UTC , WAS REFUELED AT 2029 AND DEPARTED 2052 UTC TO THE SOUTHWEST. RADAR DATA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT IN HOLDING AT THE IAF "HOMLU" WEST OF X51. THE LAST RADAR TARGET WAS AT 2118 UTC AT AN ALTITUDE OF 950'.
DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NTSB CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DECEASED GIRLFRIEND REVEALED THAT THE AIRMAN WAS ON THE CELL PHONE VIDEO CHATTING FROM 2005 UTC UP TO 2112 UTC (JUST BEFORE IMPACT).
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.