What happened
The pilot was operating a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a flight to a remote location near a campsite. The intended destination was a narrow, unimproved landing strip measuring approximately 800 feet in length, which was tightly enclosed by surrounding trees.
During the final approach phase, the pilot maintained an altitude and airspeed that were higher and faster than optimal for the confined space. Recognizing the insufficient runway remaining, the pilot initiated a go-around approximately halfway down the available strip. Full power was applied to the engine in an attempt to climb away from the ground. However, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and collided with trees located about 30 feet above the surface.
The investigation
The physical evidence indicated that the aircraft struck vegetation during the initial climb phase of the go-around maneuver. The confined nature of the landing area, combined with the high energy state of the aircraft at the initiation of the maneuver, left little margin for error or recovery.