What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot departed from an off airport ridgeline, climbed to 1000 ft AGL and encountered engine roughness. Pilot applied carburetor heat, the engine temporarily returned to normal operation. About ten minutes later, the engine began to run rough again, prompting the pilot to aim for an emergency landing in an open meadow. During the final approach the engine failed. The aircraft lost altitude early, striking trees that caused significant damage to the fuselage and wings.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT DEPARTED FROM AN OFF AIRPORT RIDGELINE, CLIMBED TO 1000 FT AGL AND ENCOUNTERED ENGINE ROUGHNESS. PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, THE ENGINE TEMPORARILY RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AGAIN, PROMPTING THE PILOT TO AIM FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN MEADOW. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE EARLY, STRIKING TREES THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.