Sorry I don't mean to offend, but unless it was mechanical failure out of range of the coast, weather problem, spinning practice or a medical emergency just exactly how do you crash a PA-38, uncontrolled, into the sea?!
You just answered your own question.
Sorry guys but I find all this talk extremely distasteful.
The guys family might read this.
This was a terrible and no doubt avoidable (as they all are) accident until proven otherwise.