What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 28, 2020, at approximately 1:37 pm eastern daylight time (EDT), a Piper PA-28-160, N5242W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a wooded area approximately 1700 feet from the runway eight threshold. The private pilot sustained minor injuries from impact. The airplane was registered to privacy data omitted and was operating under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations as a part 91 personal flight originating from French Lick, IN (frh). The flight was operated under visual flight rules (VFR) and visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed.
The pilot stated just as he turned [left] base leg the engine sputtered and died. He applied carburetor heat but the engine did not return to power.
The aircraft collided with the trees, dropped, and then came to rest inverted, facing east.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 28, 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 1:37 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A PIPER PA-28-160, N5242W, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1700 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY EIGHT THRESHOLD. THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AS A PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATING FROM FRENCH LICK, IN (FRH). THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) PREVAILED.
THE PILOT STATED JUST AS HE TURNED [LEFT] BASE LEG THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RETURN TO POWER.
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, DROPPED, AND THEN CAME TO REST INVERTED, FACING EAST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.