What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) After conducting a low-level (approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL)) inverted pass down the centerline of the runway (runway 21) at Northern Lights Airport, VT (VT46), the aircraft crashed into trees adjacent to the departure end. The aircraft was observed to be inverted and turning to the west while descending prior to impacting the trees. The trees are estimated to be approximately 60 feet in height. The aircraft contacted the tops of the trees while inverted. Its crash flight path was oriented on an approximate 240 degrees magnetic course. It came to rest approximately 100 yards beyond the first impact with the trees. The pilot was performing an unauthorized maneuver (inverted flight) and lost control of the aircraft as he attempted to recover from the maneuver.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AFTER CONDUCTING A LOW-LEVEL (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL)) INVERTED PASS DOWN THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY (RUNWAY 21) AT NORTHERN LIGHTS AIRPORT, VT (VT46), THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES ADJACENT TO THE DEPARTURE END. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE INVERTED AND TURNING TO THE WEST WHILE DESCENDING PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TREES. THE TREES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET IN HEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TOPS OF THE TREES WHILE INVERTED. ITS CRASH FLIGHT PATH WAS ORIENTED ON AN APPROXIMATE 240 DEGREES MAGNETIC COURSE. IT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS BEYOND THE FIRST IMPACT WITH THE TREES. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN UNAUTHORIZED MANEUVER (INVERTED FLIGHT) AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER FROM THE 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.