What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating on a local flight pattern. The pilot initiated a low pass over a grass landing strip. During the subsequent pull-up maneuver, the left wing contacted the tops of nearby trees, resulting in damage to that section of the airframe.
Despite the impact, the pilot maintained control of the aircraft and continued the flight for the return leg to the runway. However, as the aircraft approached the runway threshold, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft touched down in a muddy area situated beside the runway. Upon impact with the soft ground, the nose gear collapsed. Subsequently, the propeller struck the ground, causing further damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft following the tree strike and the subsequent landing failure. Examination revealed that the left wing had been damaged by contact with tree tops during the pull-up phase. Further inspection confirmed that the nose gear failed upon touchdown in the muddy area beside the runway, leading to the propeller striking the ground.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inability to maintain control during the final approach and the resulting loss of directional stability on the soft surface. The initial damage to the left wing from the tree strike may have contributed to the handling difficulties observed during the return flight. The failure of the nose gear was a direct result of the hard or off-center touchdown in the muddy terrain beside the runway.
Safety message
Pilots conducting low passes should ensure adequate clearance from obstacles, particularly trees. Additionally, maintaining control on soft or muddy surfaces requires careful attention to approach speed and touchdown point to prevent gear collapse and subsequent propeller damage.