Accident Summary
A Cessna 172 aircraft, operated by a flight school and piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI) with 1,100 hours of experience, was en route to the designated company practice area when the CFI made a distress call reporting a bird strike and stated that the aircraft was going down. Radio contact was subsequently terminated. The accident occurred in an unspecified location and at an unspecified time.
Witness Report
A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the airplane flying overhead at an estimated altitude between 500 and 1,000 feet above ground level. The witness described the aircraft's wings as "pitching (alternating) up and down looking uncontrollable" and noted that "the tail of the airplane was swinging from side to side." The witness lost sight of the airplane once it descended below a tree line.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the accident site revealed witness marks and airplane crush angles consistent with the aircraft stalling prior to impacting the ground. A thorough inspection of the airframe, engine, and maintenance logbooks did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies or malfunctions. The investigation did not specify a probable cause for the accident.