What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot departed private grass runway in a directin not typically used for this private airstrip. Pilot conducted combination soft/short field takeoff, and subsequent to the takeoff, initiated a left turn back to the airport (pilot was uncomfortable with the obstacles ahead), ultimately striking at least one tree, before striking the ground at a near vertical, inverted attitude. On scene investigation, coupled with witness statements, support a stall, followed by an initial spin rotation. Pilot stated that during the takeoff climbout he noticed that the aircraft was not in coordinated flight, and that his passenger was inadvertently applying pressure to the rudder pedals, initially right rudder, and that as a result, he observed poor climb performance. Shortly after this, the pilot became uncomfortable with the obstacles ahead and elected to turn back to the runway. He stated that during the turn his passenger became greatly alarmed, screamed, and pulled on the controls. Associated weights and temperaturs yield at or near gross weight takeoff at a density altitude in excess of 4.000 MSL.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT DEPARTED PRIVATE GRASS RUNWAY IN A DIRECTIN NOT TYPICALLY USED FOR THIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. PILOT CONDUCTED COMBINATION SOFT/SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF, AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE TAKEOFF, INITIATED A LEFT TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT (PILOT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE OBSTACLES AHEAD), ULTIMATELY STRIKING AT LEAST ONE TREE, BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND AT A NEAR VERTICAL, INVERTED ATTITUDE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION, COUPLED WITH WITNESS STATEMENTS, SUPPORT A STALL, FOLLOWED BY AN INITIAL SPIN ROTATION. PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMBOUT HE NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT IN COORDINATED FLIGHT, AND THAT HIS PASSENGER WAS INADVERTENTLY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE RUDDER PEDALS, INITIALLY RIGHT RUDDER, AND THAT AS A RESULT, HE OBSERVED POOR CLIMB PERFORMANCE. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, THE PILOT BECAME UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE OBSTACLES AHEAD AND ELECTED TO TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TURN HIS PASSENGER BECAME GREATLY ALARMED, SCREAMED, AND PULLED ON THE CONTROLS. ASSOCIATED WEIGHTS AND TEMPERATURS YIELD AT OR NEAR GROSS WEIGHT TAKEOFF AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE IN EXCESS OF 4.000 MSL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.