What happened
During a local instructional flight operating out of Popham Airfield, an aircraft occupied by a student pilot and an instructor experienced a sudden loss of altitude. While the crew was performing the final approach to the runway, the student pilot incorrectly configured the flaps to the full setting. This error resulted in the aircraft type losing necessary lift and striking the ground.
The force of the impact caused the undercarriage to be ripped from the airframe. The aircraft sustained significant damage and was subsequently declared a total loss. Despite the severity of the impact, there were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the two occupants.
Findings
An investigation into the incident determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was an incorrect flap selection by the student pilot during the approach phase of the flight.