Incident Overview
A student pilot was practicing a soft-field takeoff in preparation for his private pilot check ride, with a certificated flight instructor (CFI) on board. During the maneuver, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain.
Sequence of Events
The student conducted the soft-field takeoff with the airplane established in a nose-high pitch attitude. The student failed to reduce the wing's angle of attack, causing the airplane to rise above ground effect quickly. The CFI noted that the student was slow in lowering the nose to gain airspeed. However, the CFI delayed taking corrective action because he wanted to see if the student would take action on his own, given the upcoming check ride.
The student informed the CFI that it felt as though the right wing wanted to drop. The CFI then took control of the airplane, lowered the nose, and applied left aileron, but it was too late. The left wing dropped, and the airplane descended to the ground, resulting in impact.
Remarks
The CFI's decision to delay intervention was based on the student's imminent check ride, as he wanted to assess the student's ability to recover independently. The student's failure to reduce the angle of attack during the soft-field takeoff led to the stall and subsequent loss of control.