Originally Posted by
chuboy
A loop, in a Q400, pulling out practically in ground effect?
Impossible except through dumb luck.
Agree. It was a barrel roll that never looked like being one. Or a very poorly executed aileron roll or a screwed up split-s. Whatever it was it was indeed dumb luck that he ended up pulling out of it, although that may not have been the outcome he was looking for. The wings did not appear to be threatening to clap wingtips and the light aircraft (almost out of fuel by the sounds of it) was probably more sprightly and agile than he thought (expected).