What happened
The accident occurred during an unplanned en route stop at Trego Wakeeney Airport. The pilot, having received no airport advisories, utilized winds aloft to establish an approach for runway 35. During the turn to the base leg, the pilot observed the wind sock, which indicated a wind direction opposite to what had been anticipated.
An eyewitness reported seeing the aircraft in a 40 degree angle of bank while turning to final. The witness also noted that the pilot did not overfly the airport to verify runway and wind conditions prior to the approach. At the time, winds were reported from 150 degrees at 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots.
The pilot reported experiencing a noticeable change in lift and airspeed while turning final for runway 35. Despite applying full power, the pilot was unable to control the rate of descent. The aircraft contacted the ground in an open field approximately 500 feet short of the runway. Following touchdown, the aircraft traveled about 300 feet, crossed a road, and struck a three-foot-high dirt embankment.