Incident Overview
A certified flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a practice engine failure maneuver at an abandoned airstrip. The airstrip featured a landing area measuring 1,500 feet in length and 50 feet in width. At an altitude of approximately 500 feet above ground level, the instructor terminated the maneuver and instructed the student to execute a go-around, thereby aborting the simulated emergency.
Sequence of Events
The student manipulated the throttle control to the full power position but left the carburetor heat control in the "on" position. According to the instructor, the engine did not respond to the throttle input. The instructor then assumed control of the aircraft and maneuvered to complete a landing on the abandoned airstrip below, but inadvertently overshot the intended landing surface. While maneuvering the airplane back toward the airstrip, the left wing collided with a tree.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the airframe systems and the engine was conducted, including a test run of the engine. No anomalies or failures were found that would have precluded the engine from operating normally.