Student And Instructor Both Fatally Injured

A private pilot working on his commercial rating and his instructor were both fatally injured June 9 when the Cessna 172 they were aboard went down shortly after takeoff from Daytona International Airport on Florida's east coast.

According to the NTSB's preliminary report, the accident occurred at about 2158 eastern daylight time. The Cessna 172S, N5524L, impacted terrain when control was lost shortly after takeoff. The flight instructor and private rated student were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire.

The airplane was registered to Bravo Leasing LLC and operated by Phoenix East Aviation, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as an instructional flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

Preliminary information obtained from air traffic control personnel indicated that the airplane was on its second touch-and-go landing on runway 7R and was on the initial climb after takeoff.

An airport employee, who was in his vehicle on the taxiway, stated that as the airplane climbed out he heard what sounded like a "backfire" coming from the direction of the airplane. He stopped his truck and turned towards the airplane and stated that the airplane descend below the tree line. They headed in the direction of the airplane and located it off of the airport property. When he arrived the airplane was engulfed in flames.

Another witness reported that the airplane came over the tree line and it looked as if the pilot was turning back towards the airport. They said that the engine was running but it appeared as if the airplane had entered an aerodynamic stall before impacting the ground.

The aircraft wreckage was located in an open field located about 220 feet south of the runway 7R centerline in an open field. The airplane came to rest in a flat attitude, on a course of about 060 degrees magnetic. The cockpit, cabin instrument panel and instruments were totally consumed by post-impact fire. All components of the airplane to include flight control surfaces were accounted for at the crash site.

(Image from file. Not accident Airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov