Incident Overview
A pilot conducting a GPS approach reported being too high for a good landing and opted for a circling approach to another runway. While turning for the base leg, the pilot lost visual contact and became disoriented. The night was dark with no moon.
Sequence of Events
The pilot realized the aircraft was in a 70- to 80-degree left bank and returned it to a level attitude. Immediately after, the pilot noticed the ground directly in front. The aircraft ran through a barbed wire fence, collided with trees, and slid rearward to a stop in a high altitude meadow east of the airport.
Subsequent Evaluation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed an evaluation of the circling approach procedures and night operations for that airport. The evaluation did not find any problems with the procedures or operations.