What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Summary of incident:
METAR kiad 211952Z 03011KT 10SM SCT015 OVC039 14/10 A3021
Nearest city - chantilly, VA. privacy data omitted Departed iad runway 30 IFR. When issued direct loulu, the pilot said stand by then advised they were working an issue and needed vectors. They were at 5,000 feet and had been issued a climb to 10,000 feet. They eventually began descending. The controller advised the pilot to stop their altitude change. privacy data omitted Descended from 4,500 feet to 2,100 feet in a matter of seconds. They reached 2,100 feet in a 2,600 foot mva area. The la did activate. They appeared to be in a tight spiral turn. The pilot declared an emergency and returned to iad. No damage or injuries reported at this time.
Remarks:
FAA mor number - PCT-M-2026/05/21-0006
Attachments: cedar read only link
Forwarded
Https://cedar. Oars.FAA.gov/moreorform. Php'entryid=1413879126&RID=1198012116
Date:
May 27, 2026
Signature of
As the FAA filed it
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
METAR KIAD 211952Z 03011KT 10SM SCT015 OVC039 14/10 A3021
NEAREST CITY - CHANTILLY, VA. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED IAD RUNWAY 30 IFR. WHEN ISSUED DIRECT LOULU, THE PILOT SAID STAND BY THEN ADVISED THEY WERE WORKING AN ISSUE AND NEEDED VECTORS. THEY WERE AT 5,000 FEET AND HAD BEEN ISSUED A CLIMB TO 10,000 FEET. THEY EVENTUALLY BEGAN DESCENDING. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT TO STOP THEIR ALTITUDE CHANGE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DESCENDED FROM 4,500 FEET TO 2,100 FEET IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THEY REACHED 2,100 FEET IN A 2,600 FOOT MVA AREA. THE LA DID ACTIVATE. THEY APPEARED TO BE IN A TIGHT SPIRAL TURN. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RETURNED TO IAD. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME.
REMARKS:
FAA MOR NUMBER - PCT-M-2026/05/21-0006
ATTACHMENTS: CEDAR READ ONLY LINK
FORWARDED
HTTPS://CEDAR.OARS.FAA.GOV/MOREORFORM.PHP'ENTRYID=1413879126&RID=1198012116
DATE:
MAY 27, 2026
SIGNATURE OF