Incident Overview
An instructional flight experienced a loss of control and subsequent ground impact when a student pilot retracted the flaps without authorization. The event occurred during a training exercise focused on minimum airspeed flight.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation, the instructor pilot was demonstrating minimum airspeed flight at an altitude of approximately 20 feet above the runway. During the recovery phase of the maneuver, the student pilot retracted the flaps without receiving instruction from the instructor or providing advance warning. The student's actions resulted in the instructor pilot losing control of the aircraft, which then impacted the ground.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
Contributing Factors
The investigation determined that the student pilot's unauthorized flap retraction directly led to the loss of control. No other contributing factors were identified in the source.