What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On the fourth flight during sky diving operations, the airplane made a gradual climb to 12,700 ft. MSL where the skydivers departed the aircraft. After their departure, the pilot initiated a steep descent in excess of 4,500 ft. per min (fpm). The pilot stated that at about 4,000 ft. MSL, he attempted to arrest the descent by adding power, but the aircraft did not respond and attempts to regain power were unsuccessful. The aircraft made a steep descending turn at a low altitude and the pilot was unable to maintain flight, impacting the ground approximately 400 yards short of the airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot and passenger suffered non-life threating injuries. Twenty five gallons of fuel were recovered from the aircraft, but a video taken by the passenger during the descent showed very low fuel pressure. If more information becomes available, the report will be amended.
As the FAA filed it
ON THE FOURTH FLIGHT DURING SKY DIVING OPERATIONS, THE AIRPLANE MADE A GRADUAL CLIMB TO 12,700 FT. MSL WHERE THE SKYDIVERS DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE, THE PILOT INITIATED A STEEP DESCENT IN EXCESS OF 4,500 FT. PER MIN (FPM). THE PILOT STATED THAT AT ABOUT 4,000 FT. MSL, HE ATTEMPTED TO ARREST THE DESCENT BY ADDING POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND AND ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A STEEP DESCENDING TURN AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT, IMPACTING THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 400 YARDS SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED NON-LIFE THREATING INJURIES. TWENTY FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL WERE RECOVERED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, BUT A VIDEO TAKEN BY THE PASSENGER DURING THE DESCENT SHOWED VERY LOW FUEL PRESSURE.IF MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE, THE REPORT WILL BE AMENDED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.