What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While performing aerobatic routine during airshow, pilot seat suffered structural failure allowing pilot to pivot backward 55 to 65 degrees. Pilot momentarily lost control of aircraft. Pilot regained control after being able to free himself from the rear control stick and pulling himself into a position that allowed him to made a successful emergency landing.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC ROUTINE DURING AIRSHOW, PILOT SEAT SUFFERED STRUCTURAL FAILURE ALLOWING PILOT TO PIVOT BACKWARD 55 TO 65 DEGREES. PILOT MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT. PILOT REGAINED CONTROL AFTER BEING ABLE TO FREE HIMSELF FROM THE REAR CONTROL STICK AND PULLING HIMSELF INTO A POSITION THAT ALLOWED HIM TO MADE A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LANDING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.