Incident Details
A pilot reported that during a landing on a grass strip, she thought the surface was wet from previous rain. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly once. The pilot stated that the brakes would not work properly and the airplane was not stopping. She decided to abort the landing, but the airplane subsequently struck the top of a tree.
Pilot Statement
In her statement, the pilot indicated that she believed the grass strip was wet due to previous rain. She described the landing sequence, noting a single slight bounce after touchdown. When the brakes failed to function effectively and the airplane continued moving, she initiated a go-around. The airplane then impacted a tree.
Witness Accounts
Two witnesses observed the accident. They reported seeing the airplane initially land approximately halfway down the 2500-foot runway. Their accounts corroborated the pilot's description of the landing location.
Investigation Findings
Further investigation revealed that the grass on the runway was dry and the runway surface was in excellent condition, contrary to the pilot's assumption. Additionally, investigators determined that the pilot did not raise the flaps after aborting the landing. No other contributing factors were identified in the report.