What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
As described by the pilot, departed S12 after climb to 1500 feet approximately 3.5 miles northwest of airport the engine suddenly quit. Evidence shows the altenator and voltage regulator overheated and failed. Pilot immediately started looking for a field with no crops, livestock or powerlines. Pilot picked a field but could not get it stopped before the end of the field and ran into a tree orchard. Pilot chose to put the fuselage in the row between the trees causing the wings to hit the trees and sustain damage.
As the FAA filed it
AS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT, DEPARTED S12 AFTER CLIMB TO 1500 FEET APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF AIRPORT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. EVIDENCE SHOWS THE ALTENATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR OVERHEATED AND FAILED. PILOT IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING FOR A FIELD WITH NO CROPS, LIVESTOCK OR POWERLINES. PILOT PICKED A FIELD BUT COULD NOT GET IT STOPPED BEFORE THE END OF THE FIELD AND RAN INTO A TREE ORCHARD. PILOT CHOSE TO PUT THE FUSELAGE IN THE ROW BETWEEN THE TREES CAUSING THE WINGS TO HIT THE TREES AND SUSTAIN DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.