Accident Overview
A high-wing airplane descended into terrain during a spin training flight. The ground scars and wreckage deformation were consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a spin.
Flight Details
Review of recorded radar data revealed that the accident flight lasted about 0.7 hours. During this time, the airplane completed approximately 7 stall/spin maneuvers, each consisting of climbs and subsequent quick losses of altitude of about 1,000 feet. The last two radar returns were at 5,500 and 3,400 feet mean sea level, respectively, and spanned about 20 seconds.
On the morning of the accident, a flight instructor conducted an uneventful 1.2-hour spin training flight in the same accident airplane.
Pilot Information
The student pilot on the accident flight was enrolled in a course to receive his certified flight instructor certificate, which required spin training. The student had never flown in a high-wing airplane. Two of his past flight instructors recalled several occasions in which he locked his grip on the flight controls, failing to relinquish control or allow the instructors to move the controls.
Aircraft Examination
The airplane was determined to be within the allowable weight and center of gravity (CG) envelope for operations. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.