Accident Overview
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted an ice-covered marsh while maneuvering. Inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies.
Witness Account
A witness reported observing a metallic gray two-person plane performing maneuvers throughout the afternoon. The witness described the airplane executing loops and other tricks. Immediately before the accident, the airplane ascended almost straight up while banking slightly to the left. It appeared to stall, holding its position for a second before falling nose-first. The airplane rotated approximately one and a half times before crashing. The witness noted the impact was not straight on; the left wing struck first, followed by the nose.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane impacted at an estimated 50-degree nose-down attitude. The wreckage was confined to the point of impact. The leading edges of both wings exhibited aft crushing along their entire spans. The left wingtip showed aft crushing and buckling, while the right wingtip was intact except for a broken leading edge on the fiberglass. The flaps were found extended to 30 degrees.
Pilot Operating Handbook Information
According to the Cessna 152 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), spin entries should, where feasible, be initiated at altitudes high enough to allow recovery at least 4,000 feet above ground level, and completed well above the minimum 1,500 feet required by regulations. The POH explicitly prohibits intentional spins with flaps extended. Furthermore, the POH does not include flap extension as a procedure for recovery from an inadvertent spin. The handbook lists approved acrobatic maneuvers as Chandelles, Lazy Eights, Steep Turns, Spins, and Stalls.
The pilot had received spin training in a Cessna 152 while obtaining a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) rating in the fall of 1997.