What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft was performing aerial survey activities near Hemet, CA. Aircraft made a rapid descent and impacted the ground. The debris field was approximately 40 feet wide and 50 yards long beginning at a high point in the terrain and descending downhill. The final resting point where the majority of the fuselage and tail section where found had fire damage. The (presumed right) propeller the only major component not found at scene. It is unknown if the propeller departed before or during the impact sequence.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL SURVEY ACTIVITIES NEAR HEMET, CA. AIRCRAFT MADE A RAPID DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE DEBRIS FIELD WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET WIDE AND 50 YARDS LONG BEGINNING AT A HIGH POINT IN THE TERRAIN AND DESCENDING DOWNHILL. THE FINAL RESTING POINT WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE FUSELAGE AND TAIL SECTION WHERE FOUND HAD FIRE DAMAGE. THE (PRESUMED RIGHT) PROPELLER THE ONLY MAJOR COMPONENT NOT FOUND AT SCENE. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE PROPELLER DEPARTED BEFORE OR DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.