What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
30 Minutes into the flight, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine area, and the oil temperature was rising. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field because he thought he was on fire. An investigation showed that the aircraft hit fiberglass insulation, as used in home construction, at some point, and the insulation created smoke and clogged the oil cooler, causing the oil temperature to rise. The origins of the fiberglass are unknown. The pilot stated that he didn't recall seeing or hitting anything. This being the aircraft's fourth flight of the day, it is believed that the insulation may have come from the departing airport (kjgg) on the taxiway or during climbout.
As the FAA filed it
30 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS RISING. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON FIRE. AN INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HIT FIBERGLASS INSULATION, AS USED IN HOME CONSTRUCTION, AT SOME POINT, AND THE INSULATION CREATED SMOKE AND CLOGGED THE OIL COOLER, CAUSING THE OIL TEMPERATURE TO RISE. THE ORIGINS OF THE FIBERGLASS ARE UNKNOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DIDN'T RECALL SEEING OR HITTING ANYTHING. THIS BEING THE AIRCRAFT'S FOURTH FLIGHT OF THE DAY, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE INSULATION MAY HAVE COME FROM THE DEPARTING AIRPORT (KJGG) ON THE TAXIWAY OR DURING CLIMBOUT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.