20000527013149A

(-23) On may 27, 2000, about 1020 hours MST, a Cessna 172RG, N5207U, operated by embry riddle aeronautical university of Prescott, AZ., was destroyed during a collision with terrain near Prescott. The certified flight instructor and the commercial student both received fatal injuries. Visual meteorolical conditions prevailed for the instructional flight operating cunder 14 CFR part 141. The flight originated from Prescott about 0915 as a local area training flight for commercial manuevers, and was scheduled to return by 1200. When the a/c failed to return, a search of the practice area revealed the crash site on the drake VOR 288 degree radial about 11 miles and about 4,400 feet MSL. (.4)the airplane collided with the high desert terrain during maneuvering flight while on a dual instructional flight. The accident site elevation was 4,400 feet mean sea level (MSL). The instructor and dual commercial student were scheduled to practice commercial maneuvers, a simulated emergency approach and landing, and system/equipment malfunctions. Radar data depicted the airplane was operated in the prescribed practice area, conducting fligh t maneuvers. The radar data also indicated that the airplane's maximum altitude was 8,200 feet MSL and its lowest altitude was 6,500 feet MSL, the minimum altitude observed by the radar. The flight was not in radio contact with any ground facility. At the accident site, the landing gear was found in the extended position, and the flaps were found fully retracted. Damage to the propeller indicated it was rotating at the time of impact. Observed evidence at the accident site indicated the airplane impacted with a high descent rate and low forward velocity, in a slight left wing down, and nose down attitude. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane. Traces of antihistamine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine were found in the blood during the toxicology examination of the flight instructor.