What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft was cruising in a pattern at low speed and low altitude (500-2000 AGL) approx. 4 miles nw of airport (K8A0) for 25 minutes. The sole witness (.7 miles from site) stated he saw the aircraft flying at low power, then suddenly increase engine power and simultaneously sharply pitch nose down out and of his sight. The aircraft struck a group of trees and impacted ground at approx. 45 degrees downward, fatally injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft. Fuel and oil were present, and the engine showed signs of producing power upon impact. All flight controls were present and cables showed continuity. Initial investigation revealed no mechanical defects or abnormalities with the aircraft. Information from engine control unit, ATC tapes, pilot's flight tracking software, and medical examiner is still pending. Report will be updated as more information is known.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING IN A PATTERN AT LOW SPEED AND LOW ALTITUDE (500-2000 AGL) APPROX. 4 MILES NW OF AIRPORT (K8A0) FOR 25 MINUTES. THE SOLE WITNESS (.7 MILES FROM SITE) STATED HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT FLYING AT LOW POWER, THEN SUDDENLY INCREASE ENGINE POWER AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SHARPLY PITCH NOSE DOWN OUT AND OF HIS SIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A GROUP OF TREES AND IMPACTED GROUND AT APPROX. 45 DEGREES DOWNWARD, FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT AND DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT. FUEL AND OIL WERE PRESENT, AND THE ENGINE SHOWED SIGNS OF PRODUCING POWER UPON IMPACT. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE PRESENT AND CABLES SHOWED CONTINUITY. INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS OR ABNORMALITIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT. INFORMATION FROM ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, ATC TAPES, PILOT'S FLIGHT TRACKING SOFTWARE, AND MEDICAL EXAMINER IS STILL PENDING. REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION IS KNOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.