What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
After departing from iah, the aircraft experienced engine roughness and vibration. The pilot observed a drop in engine cylinder temperature. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to perform an emergency off-airport landing. During the landing, the left wing struck a tree, and the aircraft subsequently impacted the ground, coming to rest partially in a pond. Both occupants were able to exit the aircraft uninjured prior to the aircraft being destroyed by a post-crash fire.
As the FAA filed it
AFTER DEPARTING FROM IAH, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE ROUGHNESS AND VIBRATION. THE PILOT OBSERVED A DROP IN ENGINE CYLINDER TEMPERATURE. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND, COMING TO REST PARTIALLY IN A POND. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT BEING DESTROYED BY A POST-CRASH FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.