Incident Overview
A local training mission in the Ketchikan area ended in a crash when the student pilot initiated a steep 180-degree turn close to water while flying at a relatively low altitude. The airplane subsequently struck trees and crashed, resulting in serious injuries to both pilots and the destruction of the aircraft by a post-crash fire.
Personnel and Flight Details
The crew comprised a student pilot and a pilot-in-command. The flight was conducted as a local training mission in the vicinity of Ketchikan. The specific aircraft type, registration, and operator were not provided in the source.
Accident Sequence
While flying at low altitude, the student pilot began a steep 180-degree turn near the water. During this maneuver, the airplane impacted trees and crashed. The source does not specify the time of day, weather conditions, or whether air traffic control was involved.
Injuries and Damage
Both pilots sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. No other occupants or ground casualties were mentioned in the source.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a collision with trees after the pilot-in-command misjudged altitude. Contributing factors reported include inadequate supervision of flight and lack of familiarity with the aircraft.