At approximately 1500 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it ditched into a lake following a partial loss of engine power. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot was practicing basic flight maneuvers in preparation for his private pilot check ride. During a 20-degree banked turn at 1500 feet agl, the engine lost partial power. The pilot’s attempts to regain engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot could not maintain altitude and due to the tree-covered terrain surrounding the area, he elected to ditch the airplane into a lake. The airplane landed in the water and sank. The pilot was able to egress and was rescued by nearby boaters.
