Accident Sequence
A student pilot and his flight instructor departed from their home airport and proceeded to an outlying airport for landing and takeoff practice. After the student performed a touch and go landing, the airplane climbed through approximately 150 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. The flight instructor immediately took control of the airplane and attempted to troubleshoot the power loss while executing a right turn. The forested area off the end of the runway prevented a straight-ahead landing.
The airplane descended below the tops of the trees, and the instructor attempted to follow an S-turn in a road to land in an obstruction-free area. Midway through the turn, airspeed began to degrade and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The instructor reduced the angle of attack to prevent a full stall and loss of control, allowing the left wing to contact a tree. The airplane then yawed left, the right wing contacted trees, and the airplane impacted the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the exhaust valve for the No. 1 cylinder was stuck in the open position. This condition was consistent with the loss of engine power experienced during the flight.