What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft departed troutdale airport (ttd) with pilot ^owner as only pilot/ occupant. ATC tapes indicate pilot was not following ATC instructions well throughout flight and while climbing to an assigned altitude of FL320, descended from FL310 with no ARTCC communication in a right turn, steep spiraling decent until impact with terrain at approximately 3100 MSL.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TROUTDALE AIRPORT (TTD) WITH PILOT ^OWNER AS ONLY PILOT/ OCCUPANT. ATC TAPES INDICATE PILOT WAS NOT FOLLOWING ATC INSTRUCTIONS WELL THROUGHOUT FLIGHT AND WHILE CLIMBING TO AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF FL320, DESCENDED FROM FL310 WITH NO ARTCC COMMUNICATION IN A RIGHT TURN, STEEP SPIRALING DECENT UNTIL IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3100 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.