What happened
During a flight training session, a student pilot and an instructor departed from runway 06 into a headwind of 17 knots, with gusts reaching 23 knots. Prior to the incident, the pilot had broadcasted an intention over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to perform a maneuver involving a simulated loss of engine power following takeoff, followed by a 180-degree turn to return to the airfield.
During the maneuver, witnesses observed the aircraft pitch upward by 30 degrees while simultaneously entering an uncoordinated right bank. As the roll progressed, the nose of the aircraft yawed downward to an angle of approximately 45 degrees below the horizon. Although the aircraft appeared to be recovering from this dive and leveled its wings, it remained in a nose-down attitude.
As the aircraft approached the ground, it appeared to be in a landing flare. However, the right wingtip struck the ground, causing the engine and wingtip to impact the terrain. This impact triggered a fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. The wreckage was found near a wire fence, where the right wingtip had struck a 10-inch diameter rock and subsequently collided with a wire fence located 10 inches above the ground. Approximately 120 feet of triple-wire fencing was dragged along with the aircraft until it reached its final position.
Findings
Post-accident investigations found no evidence of mechanical or airframe anomalies that would have impaired the aircraft's performance prior to the impact. Calculations regarding the aircraft's weight and balance at the time of the accident indicated that the center of gravity was positioned approximately one inch forward of the forward limit. The engine power loss practice maneuver was the primary context for the flight path deviations.