What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot picked up aircraft from kbtf after having maintenance work done on left wingtip fuel tank, mechanic stated that airplane only had 2.5 gallons fuel in that tank. Pilot was aware of fuel state but did not take any additional gas at kbtf before departing for kogd. All radio transmissions were routine, cleared to land at kogd, tower went to verify all 3 landing gear down, and noticed airplane make a hard left and descend. Other witnesses also described an apparent left yaw, and a roll to the left before entering a steep descent and impacting terrain. Aircraft was destroyed and pilot was killed. Pilot logbooks destroyed in postcrash fire. NTSB still investigating.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT PICKED UP AIRCRAFT FROM KBTF AFTER HAVING MAINTENANCE WORK DONE ON LEFT WINGTIP FUEL TANK, MECHANIC STATED THAT AIRPLANE ONLY HAD 2.5 GALLONS FUEL IN THAT TANK. PILOT WAS AWARE OF FUEL STATE BUT DID NOT TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL GAS AT KBTF BEFORE DEPARTING FOR KOGD. ALL RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE ROUTINE, CLEARED TO LAND AT KOGD, TOWER WENT TO VERIFY ALL 3 LANDING GEAR DOWN, AND NOTICED AIRPLANE MAKE A HARD LEFT AND DESCEND. OTHER WITNESSES ALSO DESCRIBED AN APPARENT LEFT YAW, AND A ROLL TO THE LEFT BEFORE ENTERING A STEEP DESCENT AND IMPACTING TERRAIN. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND PILOT WAS KILLED. PILOT LOGBOOKS DESTROYED IN POSTCRASH FIRE. NTSB STILL INVESTIGATING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.