What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The subject aircraft was enroute to henderson airport when the pilot reported the engine was running rough and requested to divert to Bakersfield airport. The pilot stated that he could see the airport and received permission for a visual landing approach. When the plane turned towards its final approach, the pilot stated that he wouldn't be able to land safely and decided to use the parachute. The air traffic controllers saw the parachute partially open before the plane impacted the ground.
As the FAA filed it
THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE TO HENDERSON AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO BAKERSFIELD AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE AIRPORT AND RECEIVED PERMISSION FOR A VISUAL LANDING APPROACH. WHEN THE PLANE TURNED TOWARDS ITS FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LAND SAFELY AND DECIDED TO USE THE PARACHUTE. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS SAW THE PARACHUTE PARTIALLY OPEN BEFORE THE PLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.