What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 15, 2018 at 11:40 EST vista I aircraft N4QX, MD 369HM, was inspecting power lines, when it lost control and crash landed in an open field.
At the time of the accident, visibility was limited due to snowing conditions.
No flight plan was file for the accident flight.
There was no evidence that the aircraft impacted either the power lines or the transition towers. Ground scars and damage to the aircraft were consistent with the aircraft impacting the terrain in a near vertical attitude.
The aircraft rolled during the impact and came to rest on its left side. All major components were included within the main wreckage area/site.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 15, 2018 AT 11:40 EST VISTA I AIRCRAFT N4QX, MD 369HM, WAS INSPECTING POWER LINES, WHEN IT LOST CONTROL AND CRASH LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD.
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED DUE TO SNOWING CONDITIONS.
NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILE FOR THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED EITHER THE POWER LINES OR THE TRANSITION TOWERS. GROUND SCARS AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING THE TERRAIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE.
THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED DURING THE IMPACT AND CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE INCLUDED WITHIN THE MAIN WRECKAGE AREA/SITE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.