Incident Overview
A student pilot operating a Cessna 152 scheduled his flight period to coincide with another student pilot flying a Cessna 172. The pilot of the Cessna 172 reported observing the Cessna 152 enter a two-turn spin and subsequently recover. Following the spin recovery, the Cessna 172 pilot lost sight of the other aircraft and returned to the departure airport.
Witness Accounts
Ground witnesses reported seeing two aircraft engaged in aerial maneuvering. Other witnesses observed the Cessna 152 in a terminal dive from which no recovery was made. Notably, no witnesses who observed the aerial maneuvering witnessed the terminal dive, and vice versa.
Aircraft Examination
An examination of the airframe revealed no pre-existing problems. The engine exhibited wear, but no pre-existing failure was found. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire.
Pilot Injuries
The pilot was thrown clear of the wreckage and received fatal injuries.