What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Witnesses reported that shortly after departure from runway 14 at K15, the aircraft engine sounded like it lost power for a few seconds, then came back. At the same time, the pilot announced over CTAF that he had a problem, and was returning immediately to land on runway 32. Witnesses also reported that the aircraft was trailing black smoke. They stated that the aircraft entered a left turn which initially appeared normal. The bank angle increased rapidly until the aircraft dove nearly straight down and impacted terrain in a wooded area. A post-impact fire consumed most of the wreckage.
As the FAA filed it
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 14 AT K15, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN CAME BACK. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PILOT ANNOUNCED OVER CTAF THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM, AND WAS RETURNING IMMEDIATELY TO LAND ON RUNWAY 32. WITNESSES ALSO REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAILING BLACK SMOKE. THEY STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A LEFT TURN WHICH INITIALLY APPEARED NORMAL. THE BANK ANGLE INCREASED RAPIDLY UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT DOVE NEARLY STRAIGHT DOWN AND IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A WOODED AREA. A POST-IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE WRECKAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.