Accident Sequence
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot flared the airplane approximately 50 feet above the runway surface. This caused the airplane to stall, resulting in a hard drop onto the runway followed by a bounce. The instructor then assumed control of the airplane and attempted to counteract a crosswind that was pushing the aircraft toward the side of the runway. Despite the instructor's corrective inputs, the airplane drifted laterally and impacted a tree.
Pilot Information
The flight instructor was conducting his first instructional flight after recently obtaining his instructor certification. He had accumulated about three hours of total flight experience in the specific model of airplane involved. The student pilot had a total of ten flight hours, all of which were logged in the same airplane model, and had not yet soloed.
Additional Details
The instructor reported that he may have been complacent regarding the student's ability to handle the airplane. He noted that the student's previous instructor had indicated earlier that the student was skillful at handling the airplane.