Incident Overview
A commercial certificated flight instructor was providing primary flight instruction under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. According to the student pilot, they were conducting traffic pattern work at a gravel airstrip. During the initial climb from the runway, the instructor "pulled the engine" to simulate a loss of engine power emergency. The runway in use required a departure over a saltwater inlet, leaving only the option to execute a 180-degree turn back toward the runway just departed.
Sequence of Events
The student estimated they were 300-500 feet above the water when he initiated a standard rate turn. The instructor told him the turn was not steep enough, but due to the low altitude, the student did not feel comfortable increasing the angle of bank. The student reported that the instructor then took control of the airplane and dramatically increased the angle of bank. The airplane subsequently stalled and dove toward the ground, with the instructor leveling the wings just as the airplane collided with trees adjacent to the runway.
Damage
The student stated that the airplane's wings and fuselage received structural damage as a result of the collision with trees.