Accident Sequence
The accident occurred during a dark night at the pilot's home base airport. The 225-hour non-instrument rated private pilot was conducting a 305-nautical mile cross country flight. After being advised that he was landing downwind, the pilot initiated a go-around. The airplane then collided with trees and terrain approximately half a mile from the departure end of runway 36. The impact was in a level flight attitude with the landing gear and flaps in the retracted position. No distress calls were received from the pilot prior to the accident.
Airport Environment
Other pilots based at the airport reported that, due to a large lake to the northeast and the sparsely populated area, night takeoffs from runway 36 are considered 'instrument takeoffs' because of the lack of visual references.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the airframe and a teardown examination of the engine and propeller did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal flight operations.
Pilot Information
The pilot's total flight experience in night operations could not be determined.