What happened
During an introductory flight lesson, a Cessna 152 collided with sloping terrain. An eyewitness observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude in a steep climb before it transitioned into a vertical descent in a nose-down attitude. The aircraft continued this descent until it impacted the ground.
The witness noted that the engine noise remained loud and did not sputter or stop during the maneuver, and there was no visible smoke trailing from the aircraft as it descended. Following the impact, a fire occurred which destroyed the wreckage.
The investigation
A wreckage examination was conducted to determine if mechanical issues contributed to the accident. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The flight instructor involved had been certified for approximately seven months and had accumulated about 169 flight hours as a certified flight instructor at the time of the accident.