What happened
During a flight near the Westport River, a flight instructor instructed the pilot to execute a power-off landing to simulate an engine failure. As the aircraft approached the intended landing point, it became evident that the plane would not reach the target area. In response, the crew initiated a turn to the north to establish a new approach. This maneuver was performed at a high speed and into a tailwind.
The aircraft subsequently impacted the water. Following this initial contact, the flight instructor applied full power in an attempt to perform a go-around maneuver; however, the crew was unable to maintain control of the aircraft. The plane struck the water a second time, cartwheelled, and eventually came to rest in an inverted position on the river.
The investigation
An inspection of the wreckage conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector determined that there were no pre-impact malfunctions regarding the flight controls.