Accident Description
A student pilot and a flight instructor were conducting a training flight. The student pilot departed from a lake heading south. Following the instructor's direction, the aircraft turned east toward rising terrain. The instructor then suggested a turn back to the south. At that point, the student announced that the airplane "would not climb" and transferred control of the airplane to the instructor. The airplane subsequently struck a downward slope on the eastern side of the lake.
Aircraft Damage
The nose compartment, cockpit, and cabin area were destroyed and completely exposed. The wings, empennage, and tail were largely intact.
Pilot Statements
Neither pilot recalled any problems with the performance or handling of the airplane before the transfer of flight controls. Neither pilot remembered any portion of the flight after the transfer of controls.
Weather Information
Examination of weather radar data revealed a level 3-4 cell in the vicinity of the accident site around the time of the accident.
Engine Examination
After the accident, the engine was tested in a test cell. Due to deteriorated ignition harnesses, it ran to about 65 percent power. After replacement of the harnesses, the engine ran to 100 percent power. The engine was manufactured 20 years before the accident and had never been overhauled. The manufacturer recommended that the engine be overhauled at 2,000 hours or 12 years, whichever occurred first.
Missing Information
The accident report did not specify the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, location, occupants, injuries, or time of day. No conclusions or causal factors were provided in the source.