What happened
On December 7, 2008, an AeroBoero AB-115, registration PP-GQF, was conducting a local flight training mission at the Aeroclube de Bagé in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The aircraft was occupied by an instructor and a student pilot.
During the initial climb, the instructor observed smoke emanating from beneath the front seat. The instructor took control of the aircraft and instructed the student to shut down non-essential electrical equipment, including the radio, transponder, battery, and alternator. While attempting to return to the runway for a landing on runway 27, the instructor noticed that the oil pressure had dropped to zero, the propeller had entered a windmilling state, and the engine had lost power.
While executing a left turn to enter the traffic pattern, the aircraft struck the ground approximately 300 meters from the threshold of runway 09. A fire broke out minutes after the impact, destroying the aircraft, except for the wings and propeller. The student pilot sustained serious injuries, while the instructor sustained minor injuries.