What happened
During an ascent from an airfield located in Broad Chalke, southeast of Salisbury in Wiltshire, the Beaver failed to reach an adequate altitude. Shortly after departing the field, the aircraft made contact with the tops of trees and subsequently crashed within a nearby wooded area.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained slight injuries during the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicated that the aircraft's flaps were not configured correctly for departure. Specifically, the flaps had been left in the cruise position rather than being set to the takeoff position, which prevented the plane from gaining necessary lift.