What happened
The pilot was attempting to land at night at an airfield that lacked lighting infrastructure. Aware of the elevated and wooded terrain located beyond the end of the runway, the pilot elected to fly a low-angle approach. Upon sighting trees to the left side of the aircraft, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around maneuver. However, before sufficient climb performance could be established, the aircraft impacted additional trees. Following this collision, the aircraft returned to the runway surface and ground looped.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and subsequent impact. Examination of the pilot's actions revealed that the decision to execute a go-around was made after visual contact with obstacles. The critical factor was the inability to gain altitude quickly enough to clear the terrain during the initial climb phase.
Findings
The primary contributing factors involved the challenging environment and the timing of the abort maneuver. Nighttime operations at an unlighted airport significantly reduced situational awareness regarding terrain clearance. The pilot's decision to perform a go-around after sighting obstacles on the left was too late to prevent impact with the vegetation before the aircraft could establish a positive climb rate.
Safety message
Pilots operating at night into unlighted airports must maintain strict adherence to minimum safe altitudes and ensure adequate terrain clearance margins. Go-around procedures should be initiated well before visual obstacles are encountered, allowing ample time and distance for the aircraft to gain altitude safely.