Ledet was the FAA Inspector and was renting the plane from Mitsutomi.
Mitsutomi was acting as the safety pilot.

That explains alot. I read the report as Ledet was the DPE (designated
examiner).

An engine failure would not have caused a
steep dive like that anyway, and a control failure would not have
allowed them to lift the nose before impact.

Most likely scenario, control failure...