Beginning at 2,500 feet (760 m) AGL, Holland's aircraft executed the circle at 65° of bank. In a maneuver described by one witness as a "death spiral", the nose of the aircraft continued to drop and the bank angle increased to 80°. After losing 1,000 feet (300 m) of altitude, Holland was able to regain control of the aircraft.[1]: 125 [2][page needed][3]: 3–4 Holland also regularly and illegally parked his car in a "no parking" zone near the base headquarters building.</ref>