Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting a landing approach at an airport when he encountered adverse weather conditions. According to the pilot's report, he arrived over the airport at approximately 1200 feet above ground level (AGL) to enter a downwind leg for landing. During this phase, he experienced a moderate to strong sink and strong southerly winds. He estimated the wind velocity at 1,000 feet AGL to be 45 to 50 miles per hour.
Maneuvers and Descent
To counteract the strong winds and sink, the pilot increased his airspeed, sacrificing altitude. He turned downwind at about 600 feet AGL. The pilot reported that due to the strong tailwind, he overshot his intended reference point for the turn to base leg. After turning base, the aircraft continued to drift further north, away from the intended flight path.
Final Approach and Obstacle Strike
In an attempt to realign with the runway, the pilot executed a hard turn to final approach. However, the aircraft had descended too low to clear trees located north of the runway. The aircraft struck the trees, ending the approach. The source does not provide further details on aircraft type, registration, operator, location, date, time of day, injuries, or damage extent.
Pilot Report Details
The student pilot provided a narrative account of the events, emphasizing the influence of strong winds and sink on the approach. No determination of probable cause was stated in the source.