What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The commercial pilot while practicing soft field takeoffs failed to put the flaps in the correct position. As a result, the aircraft lifted off the runway early. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the right wing struck the precision approach path indicator (PAPI). The damage to the aircraft was major because the wing separated from the fuselage mount. The pilot and passenger did not sustain injuries.
Aircraft records were reviewed and found to have proper aircraft certification and current inspection status. Pilot records were reviewed and found to have the correct certification.
As the FAA filed it
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WHILE PRACTICING SOFT FIELD TAKEOFFS FAILED TO PUT THE FLAPS IN THE CORRECT POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY EARLY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATOR (PAPI). THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS MAJOR BECAUSE THE WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE MOUNT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES.
AIRCRAFT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED AND FOUND TO HAVE PROPER AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION AND CURRENT INSPECTION STATUS. PILOT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED AND FOUND TO HAVE THE CORRECT CERTIFICATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.