Flight Details
The pilot of the accident flight was seated in the rear seat as pilot-in-command (PIC), while the other occupant, who had been PIC on the previous flight, was in the front seat as a pilot-rated passenger (PAX). The flight originated after the aircraft had landed from a previous flight and been refueled.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot, the takeoff and climb were normal, and he entered the traffic pattern for a touch-and-go landing. He applied carburetor heat at mid-field on downwind. When the airplane was close to the runway, it began to drift to the right, and immediately after touchdown it swerved to the left. The airplane swerved back and forth several times before the pilot added power to initiate a go-around. The passenger reported that the airplane did not climb at a normal rate and that its speed seemed extremely slow. During the climb, the airplane impacted the tops of trees.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no abnormalities of the airframe or engine. The carburetor heat control was observed in the 'on' position. The pilot reported a total of 228 hours of flight experience, with 18 hours in the accident make and model.