Accident Overview
The accident occurred at 0050 EST as the pilot was attempting to land after flying to a football game earlier in the day. The pilot and a passenger had departed at 0830 the previous day and were returning when the accident happened.
Flight and Approach
Upon arrival, the pilot flew a VOR approach to the airport. The approach left the aircraft too high to land on the intended runway. The pilot then executed a circling VFR pattern to land on the reciprocal runway.
Weather and Collision
During the descending base turn of the circling pattern, the aircraft flew into ground fog. The left wing struck a tree while the aircraft was still in the turn.
Pilot Actions and Weather Information
Before the approach, the pilot had received a complete weather briefing on the existing conditions. Additionally, the pilot had observed patchy ground fog prior to commencing the approach.