History of Flight
The aircraft, a Piper PA-38-112 registered OO-MSG, departed Sint-Truiden Airfield (EBST) at approximately 12:00 UTC for a local training flight with a student pilot and an instructor. This was the second flight of the day; the first had been conducted from 09:45 to 10:49 UTC. The aircraft had been fully refueled before this flight. The purpose of both flights was stall training: flapless in the morning and with flaps extended in the afternoon.
Radar data showed the aircraft climbing to 1,200 ft shortly after departure, then heading south, then north, and reaching 1,900 ft near EBST. It then turned left and executed several north-south courses at around 1,900 ft. Two witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft approaching; one heard the engine sputtering. Both saw the aircraft suddenly dive at a high angle and impact the ground. One witness reported the aircraft was spinning. The impact was at high speed.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The cultivated field suffered minor damage.
Personnel Information
The student pilot, a 40-year-old Belgian male, held a Student Pilot License issued 19 December 2008, valid until 19 December 2013, and a Class 2 medical certificate valid until 21 November 2012. His total flight experience was approximately 70 hours (70 training lessons). He had previously trained on Cessna 152, 172, and 150 aircraft, and had completed seven flights on the Piper PA-38-112. The instructor, a 63-year-old Belgian male, held a Private Pilot License (issued 6 January 1987) and a Commercial Pilot License (issued 27 April 2004, valid until 29 October 2011). Both were the sole occupants.
Cause
The accident was caused by a loss of control during a stall exercise.