What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
According to witness reports, during unknown phase of flight, while at approximately 800 feet AGL, an inflight fire, of unknown origin, occurred with a substantial amount smoke the cabin. The pilot reportedly attempted to land at 4MO4, however, was unable to see due to the smoke. Consequently, the aircraft made a hard Landing in a corn field approximately 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 02. The aircraft was destroyed by a combination of impact forces and fire. The pilot, sustained critical injuries and was transported to medical facility with burns over 65% of his body. FAA records review determined there is no record of the pilot having an airman certificate, as pilot, mechanic, repairman or a medical certificate.
As the FAA filed it
ACCORDING TO WITNESS REPORTS, DURING UNKNOWN PHASE OF FLIGHT, WHILE AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET AGL, AN INFLIGHT FIRE, OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN, OCCURRED WITH A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT SMOKE THE CABIN. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT 4MO4, HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO SEE DUE TO THE SMOKE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING IN A CORN FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 02. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY A COMBINATION OF IMPACT FORCES AND FIRE. THE PILOT, SUSTAINED CRITICAL INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO MEDICAL FACILITY WITH BURNS OVER 65% OF HIS BODY. FAA RECORDS REVIEW DETERMINED THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE PILOT HAVING AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE, AS PILOT, MECHANIC, REPAIRMAN OR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.