What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot in command (PIC) was conducting preditor control operations. The PIC and rear gunner spotted a target in the field below. The PIC entered a steep right turn with slow airspeed causing the aircraft to stall which resulted in a loss of control. With no recoverable altitude, the right wing impacted terrain, cartwheeled and came to rest 107 feet from the intial impact. Damage to the aircraft was substantial. The PIC and gunner received minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) WAS CONDUCTING PREDITOR CONTROL OPERATIONS. THE PIC AND REAR GUNNER SPOTTED A TARGET IN THE FIELD BELOW. THE PIC ENTERED A STEEP RIGHT TURN WITH SLOW AIRSPEED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. WITH NO RECOVERABLE ALTITUDE, THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED TERRAIN, CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST 107 FEET FROM THE INTIAL IMPACT. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE PIC AND GUNNER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.