What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was operating airplane at low altitude with 2 passengers along scenic highway and struck power transmission lines at approximately 40 feet. Top of vertical stabilizer and rudder were separated from the aircraft. Aircraft continued approximately three quarters of a mile with only limited controllability when it struck the surface in an open crop field. Airplane landed hard, collapsed main gear, prop strike and slid 120 feet to final resting point. Pilot and passengers were transported to area hospital where they were treated and released for minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS OPERATING AIRPLANE AT LOW ALTITUDE WITH 2 PASSENGERS ALONG SCENIC HIGHWAY AND STRUCK POWER TRANSMISSION LINES AT APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET. TOP OF VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WERE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE WITH ONLY LIMITED CONTROLLABILITY WHEN IT STRUCK THE SURFACE IN AN OPEN CROP FIELD. AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, COLLAPSED MAIN GEAR, PROP STRIKE AND SLID 120 FEET TO FINAL RESTING POINT. PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO AREA HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE TREATED AND RELEASED FOR MINOR INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.