What happened
The flight originated in Mexico before the pilot landed at Eagle Pass, Texas, to clear U.S. Customs. The pilot departed without refueling or obtaining a weather briefing, heading toward his home airfield at Flying L Ranch near Bandera, Texas. Local observations indicated thunderstorms and heavy rain at the destination, though only light rain was present to the south.
Approaching from the south, the pilot flew over a business associate's property before proceeding north toward Flying L Ranch. He soon returned, observing light precipitation beginning while lightning and heavier rain showers were visible to the north. Winds were from 270 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
The pilot approached an open field behind his friend's property from the north, landed, and then initiated a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the tops of three trees, pitched nearly straight up into a half loop, and struck the ground in a nose-low attitude. There were 20 to 25 gallons of fuel remaining at the time.
The investigation
Investigation of the flight path and weather conditions revealed that the pilot proceeded toward his destination without obtaining a current weather briefing or refueling. Observations confirmed active thunderstorms and heavy rain at the intended landing site, with lightning visible to the north. The wind was steady from the west at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots.
Findings
The pilot's decision to fly into thunderstorms without a weather briefing contributed to the accident. The aircraft struck trees during the go-around, leading to loss of control and impact with the ground in a nose-low attitude. The presence of heavy rain and lightning indicated hazardous weather conditions that were not adequately assessed prior to the approach.
Safety message
Pilots should always obtain a complete weather briefing before flight and avoid flying into known thunderstorms. Refueling before departure is critical for safety margins, especially when operating in remote areas with limited alternatives.