What happened
A flight intended to provide an orientation of the aircraft to a student ended in a fatal accident. During the flight, observers noted the aircraft traveling from east to west at a low velocity. The aircraft's right wing initially dipped before leveling, followed by a simultaneous drop of the nose and right wing. This resulted in a steep descent at an angle between 45 and 60 degrees. During this descent, the wings exhibited rolling motions, and movement was noted on the outer portion of the right wing. The aircraft failed to regain altitude and struck a swamp area in a nose-first position at a low speed.
Findings
An inspection of the aircraft following the crash revealed no signs of mechanical failure, structural issues, or malfunctions regarding the engines, propellers, flight controls, or other onboard systems. The rudder trim was positioned neutrally, while the elevator trim was set to 70% nose-up.
Toxicology results for the dual student indicated the presence of marijuana in both urine and blood, along with detectable levels of acetaminophen. The flight instructor's toxicology report showed high levels of salicylate and acetaminophen. Notably, the pilot-in-command exhibited hand injuries that were consistent with the physical demands of controlling the aircraft during the accident, whereas the student's hand injuries were not.