What happened
On June 24, 2022, a Cessna 152, registration N934JH, was involved in a fatal accident in Mendon, Utah. The flight was being conducted as a Part 91 instructional flight for the purpose of spin training. The crew consisted of a flight instructor and a flight instructor candidate.
The flight departed from Logan-Cache Airport in Logan, Utah, and proceeded to a designated aviation practice area approximately 10 nautical miles southwest of the airport. ADS-B data showed that the aircraft performed several training maneuvers involving rapid altitude descents or directional changes exceeding 1/80 degrees, which were consistent with spin training.
During the training, the aircraft entered a maneuver at approximately 9,100 feet MSL. Surveillance footage captured the airplane in a fully developed left spin, completing three rotations in a nose-down attitude over approximately seven seconds before impacting the terrain. The elevation at the wreckage site was 4,590 feet. The accident resulted in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the aircraft impacted the ground in a 45-degree nose-down attitude. The cockpit area was compressed, and while the wings and empennage remained largely intact, the left wing tip sustained impact damage. There was no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions in the engine or flight controls. The aircraft was found to be within weight and center-of-gravity limitations.
A review of flight logs indicated that the flight instructor had only 2.4 hours of experience in the Cessna 152, while the student pilot had 0.4 hours of experience in the same model. Most of the flight experience for both individuals was acquired in different, more technologically advanced, low-wing aircraft.
Toxicology testing for the flight instructor candidate found low levels of codeine and morphine in the urine, though no detectable levels were found in the blood, making it unlikely these substances contributed to the accident. The autopsy of the flight instructor determined the cause of death was blunt force injuries.