What happened
The aircraft was conducting an approach to Runway 34 at Sterling, Massachusetts, when it made contact with trees. The accident occurred approximately 100 feet short of the runway threshold. According to the pilot's statement, a severe downdraft was encountered during the final phase of the approach, which resulted in a rapid rate of descent.
As the aircraft descended below normal glide path parameters, the left main landing gear struck trees. This impact caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left by approximately 20 degrees. The force of the collision propelled the aircraft through the tree line, where it ultimately struck the ground. The initial ground contact was made with the left wing and the nose section first.
The investigation
The pilot reported that a severe downdraft contributed to the loss of altitude control during the approach. The sequence of events indicates that the aircraft descended rapidly due to weather conditions before impacting terrain obstacles short of the runway.