What happened
The pilot reported that he did not obtain a weather briefing prior to departure. During the flight to his home airstrip, he encountered thunderstorms, but elected to continue to his destination. The pilot tried to land on the 2,100-foot strip, but wind gusts prevented touchdown. The pilot aborted the landing, and attempted to fly under wires in his flight path but struck a tree.
The investigation
The pilot said there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He said, "I can't blame the airplane. It was me."
Findings
Weather conditions played a significant role in the accident sequence. The pilot's decision to continue into thunderstorms and attempt a landing on a short strip with gusty winds contributed to the loss of control. The subsequent maneuver to fly under wires resulted in a collision with a tree.
Safety message
Pilots are reminded to obtain a thorough weather briefing before every flight. Continuing into known thunderstorms and attempting low-level maneuvers near obstacles significantly increases the risk of accident.