What happened
The aircraft collided with trees while on a short final approach to land, subsequently crashing into the ground within the backyard of a private residence. The pilot, who sustained serious injuries in the incident, reported that he had flown a normal traffic pattern into a wind ranging from 15 to 20 knots. Just prior to the collision and ground impact, tree limbs became visible in the landing lights.
Weather conditions at the time were visual meteorological (VMC) with scattered clouds at 5,000 feet and visibility of 15 miles. Official weather reports indicated winds from 350 degrees at 10 knots, while UNICOM reported winds out of the north at 15 to 20 knots.
The investigation
Investigators recovered all aircraft component parts from the scene, with the exception of small fiberglass pieces from the wingtips. The pilot and passenger were noted as recovering from their injuries following the accident.