Accident Overview
An aircraft collided with trees at night during a short final approach to land and crashed to the ground in the backyard of a private residence. The pilot, who was seriously injured in the accident, provided an account of the events leading up to the collision. All aircraft component parts were located at the scene except for small wingtip fiberglass pieces. The pilot and passenger are recovering from their injuries.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he flew a normal pattern into a 15-20 knot wind when tree limbs appeared in the landing lights just before the collision and ground impact. The pilot did not elaborate on any evasive actions taken prior to the impact.
Weather Conditions
Meteorological conditions were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, visibility 15 miles, and wind from 350 degrees at 10 knots. UNICOM reported the wind as out of the north at 15 to 20 knots.
Investigation Findings
Investigators found all component parts of the aircraft at the accident scene, with the exception of small wingtip fiberglass pieces. No analysis of possible contributing factors has been provided in the initial report. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.