What happened
The accident occurred during a training flight involving a touch-and-go maneuver. After the student pilot executed the touchdown and initiated the takeoff roll, the aircraft entered the initial climb phase. During this ascent, the airplane encountered turbulence. The student pilot reportedly became startled by the turbulent conditions and reacted by pulling back rapidly on the control yoke. This abrupt input caused the aircraft to exceed its critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. Unable to recover from the stall, the aircraft descended and impacted a row of trees located at the end of the runway.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis included interviews with both the student pilot and the pilot-in-command, who was also the certified flight instructor (CFI) on board. The CFI stated that he was unable to react quickly enough to correct the aircraft's attitude once the stall had been initiated by the student's input. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified as contributing factors.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the student pilot's improper reaction to turbulence, which led to a loss of control due to an aerodynamic stall. The rapid back-pressure on the controls exceeded the aircraft's lift capabilities at that airspeed and configuration. The CFI's inability to intervene in time further contributed to the outcome.
stall