What happened
The incident occurred during a dark night landing attempt on a lighted private sod airstrip. The pilot first performed a low pass to inspect the runway for potential wildlife hazards, specifically deer. Upon returning for the landing approach, the pilot encountered turbulence on final approach and applied power to execute a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft drifted to the left and collided with bordering trees. The pilot estimated a right crosswind component of 5 to 10 knots at the time.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and environmental conditions during the final approach and go-around phase. Examination of the site confirmed the collision with the tree line following the leftward drift. No mechanical failures were identified as contributing factors in the immediate sequence of events described by the pilot.
Findings
Contributing factors included the dark night conditions which limited visibility, the presence of turbulence on final approach, and the right crosswind estimated at 5 to 10 knots. The decision to perform a go-around in these conditions led to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the trees.
Safety message
Pilots should exercise extreme caution during night operations on uncontrolled or private strips. Assessing runway conditions via low pass is prudent, but executing a go-around in turbulent conditions with limited visual references requires careful energy management and awareness of surrounding terrain.