What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A pilot/mechanic eye witness observed the RV-6 depart runway 12. During the initial climb-out, the eye witness stated the engine started to make popping noises. He then observed the RV-6 level off at an altitude of 200' AGL and immediately turn to a close in left downwind for runway 12. The witness stated while the RV-6 continued on the downwind, another aircraft was on final for runway 12. The witness stated he could see the RV-6 pitching up to hold altitude on the downwind. The witness then observed the RV-6 turn base abeam the runway 12 and described a steep angle of bank as the RV-6 turned toward the runway. At that point, the aircraft abruptly pitched down contacting powerlines and a fence before impacting the ground. The aircraft destroyed by the ensuing post crash fire.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A PILOT/MECHANIC EYE WITNESS OBSERVED THE RV-6 DEPART RUNWAY 12. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT, THE EYE WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE POPPING NOISES. HE THEN OBSERVED THE RV-6 LEVEL OFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200' AGL AND IMMEDIATELY TURN TO A CLOSE IN LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 12. THE WITNESS STATED WHILE THE RV-6 CONTINUED ON THE DOWNWIND, ANOTHER AIRCRAFT WAS ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 12. THE WITNESS STATED HE COULD SEE THE RV-6 PITCHING UP TO HOLD ALTITUDE ON THE DOWNWIND. THE WITNESS THEN OBSERVED THE RV-6 TURN BASE ABEAM THE RUNWAY 12 AND DESCRIBED A STEEP ANGLE OF BANK AS THE RV-6 TURNED TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AT THAT POINT, THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN CONTACTING POWERLINES AND A FENCE BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT DESTROYED BY THE ENSUING 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.