Close call from CADORs

[J.O.]

At 15:26Z, several strong ELT reports were heard by aircraft in various areas (100 miles south of Fredericton (CYFC) to 40 miles north of Fredericton. The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was advised. At 15:55Z the Fredericton Flight Service Station inquired about an overdue aircraft, a Piper PA44-180. At 16:00Z, the RCC advised that there was an overdue aircraft at Fredericton. At 17:30Z, search and rescue located an aircraft in the woods north of Fredericton. RCC advised Moncton ACC that all three persons survived and were airlifted to hospital. TSB assessing.

Narrative: UPDATE TSB: During the flight, the student was asked to do a stall manoeuvre. The aircraft was approximately 3500 ASL. During recovery the aircraft abruptly entered a spin. The instructor immediately took control and started spin recovery procedures. During the ensuing dive and pull out from the spin, the aircraft impacted trees and came to rest right side up, with the wings separated from the fuselage. The aircraft was extensively damaged. The crew evacuated the aircraft by smashing out the front window. The door was unable to be opened due to trees up against the door.

[DEFCON]

Does a PA44-180? have a stall strip on the wing?

[Moon The Loon]

PA44 Piper Seminole - light twin engine, T-Tail.

What in the name of sanity were they doing stalls at such a low altitude (~3000' AGL)?

Was this one of MFC's overseas students?

[J.O.]

I got checked on the Seminole back in the early 80's. One thing I specifically remember from the training was that we could only do an approach to the stall and we had recover at the first sign of an impending stall. The instructor emphasized the point several times.