What happened
A student pilot was conducting several cross-country flights authorized by a flight instructor. The instructor had established specific operational limitations for flights involving Woodcreek Resort Airstrip, the pilot's home base. These restrictions required that the aircraft maintain a fuel level of one-half or less and that ambient temperatures remain below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thirty minutes prior to the accident, the pilot had topped off the fuel tanks. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 102 degrees F, exceeding the instructor's established limit.
The pilot performed an initial pass over the runway to ensure it was clear for landing. During this period, a witness observed that the wind, estimated at 6 knots, shifted direction by approximately 180 degrees between the first and second approaches.
During the second approach, a witness located 300 feet from the end of the runway reported that the aircraft narrowly cleared trees over a creek before executing a hard left bank. Another witness observed the aircraft in a steep left bank followed by a downward dive. The aircraft subsequently impacted the backside of the 18th green of a golf course and came to rest in a sand trap. There were no fatalities reported.