What happened
A certified flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a local instructional flight involving touch-and-go landings near an uncontrolled airport. During the flight, the Cessna (type not specified) took off to the west, returned, and performed a touch-and-go in the opposite direction. The aircraft then executed two sharp 90-degree turns to realign with the western runway.
Following another touch-and-go, the aircraft began a climb at a very steep angle. Witnesses observed that the airplane appeared fully silhouetted in plan view against the sky when viewed from behind. The aircraft subsequently turned to the right and dropped to the ground. The student pilot was not injured in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the instructor had directed the student to fly down the runway at an altitude just high enough to avoid wheel contact. While the student pulled up to the appropriate takeoff attitude, it is believed they failed to apply sufficient takeoff power. Simultaneously, the instructor failed to intervene before the aircraft entered a nose-high, stalled condition at an altitude insufficient for recovery.
Postmortem analysis of the instructor revealed a blood ethanol level of 0.31%. Evidence suggested this level was the result of sustained increased alcohol intake over weeks or months rather than a single event, supported by findings of liver cirrhosis during the autopsy and witness reports of the instructor consuming alcohol before the flight. Additionally, while the instructor had reported a prior DUI to the FAA, no further substance dependence evaluation had been required.