What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Asel M-20 Mooney accident:
During a flight within the traffic pattern of Ryan airfield (ryn) near Tucson, AZ., the airman experienced a significant loss of engine power in the crosswind turn. The airman did not have sufficient altitude to return to land on the airport so he maneuvered the aircraft for an off airport landing while he initiated an emergency checklist. This checklist included switching fuel tanks. When the airman switched tanks, the engine began to operate normally, but the altitude was too low and the airman did not have the time to correct the problem.
Local law enforcement was called to the scene of the off airport landing.
The airman was the sole occupant and he did not sustain any injuries. The aircraft, however, sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
ASEL M-20 MOONEY ACCIDENT:
DURING A FLIGHT WITHIN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN OF RYAN AIRFIELD (RYN) NEAR TUCSON, AZ., THE AIRMAN EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN THE CROSSWIND TURN. THE AIRMAN DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT SO HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT FOR AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WHILE HE INITIATED AN EMERGENCY CHECKLIST. THIS CHECKLIST INCLUDED SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. WHEN THE AIRMAN SWITCHED TANKS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY, BUT THE ALTITUDE WAS TOO LOW AND THE AIRMAN DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE OF THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING.
THE AIRMAN WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND HE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT, HOWEVER, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.