What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was practicing aerobatics and intentionally entered an inverted spin. After two turns he applied recovery controls and the a/c did not recover. After 10 to 12 turns-as a last ditch manuever-pilot reversed controls and a/c recovered. However, the a/c was less than 200 feet above the ground and had insufficient airspeed to regain stable flight. It impacted in a vacant farm field, flipped over nose first, and slid to a stop after 135 feet. The pilot crawled from the wreckage unhurt. In the interview, the pilot stated that he may not have recognized recovery from an inverted right spin to an upright left spin which resulted in his continuing to hold pro-spin controls until deciding to attempt a last ditch manuever and reverse controls. He further stated he may have become somewhat disoriented during the continual spinning maneuver.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS PRACTICING AEROBATICS AND INTENTIONALLY ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN. AFTER TWO TURNS HE APPLIED RECOVERY CONTROLS AND THE A/C DID NOT RECOVER. AFTER 10 TO 12 TURNS-AS A LAST DITCH MANUEVER-PILOT REVERSED CONTROLS AND A/C RECOVERED. HOWEVER, THE A/C WAS LESS THAN 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND HAD INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO REGAIN STABLE FLIGHT. IT IMPACTED IN A VACANT FARM FIELD, FLIPPED OVER NOSE FIRST, AND SLID TO A STOP AFTER 135 FEET. THE PILOT CRAWLED FROM THE WRECKAGE UNHURT. IN THE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE RECOGNIZED RECOVERY FROM AN INVERTED RIGHT SPIN TO AN UPRIGHT LEFT SPIN WHICH RESULTED IN HIS CONTINUING TO HOLD PRO-SPIN CONTROLS UNTIL DECIDING TO ATTEMPT A LAST DITCH MANUEVER AND REVERSE CONTROLS. HE FURTHER STATED HE MAY HAVE BECOME SOMEWHAT DISORIENTED DURING THE CONTINUAL SPINNING MANEUVER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.