Incident Overview
A pilot on a pleasure flight was approaching his intended destination, a turf airstrip with a single runway. The runway, designated 20, measured 2,350 feet in length and 125 feet in width. As the pilot arrived, the windsock indicated a direct crosswind to the runway.
Approach and Collision
While on approach, the pilot reported that he was "slipping in" the airplane. During the final approach, he realized he was too low and would hit trees. He leveled the wings, but the aircraft "clipped" the trees. The impact spun the airplane 180 degrees before it came to rest on the ground.
Pilot Background
The pilot noted that approximately six years had passed since his most recent biennial flight review, and about seven years since his last FAA medical examination.
Weather Conditions
A weather observation taken at an airport located about 15 miles from the accident site recorded winds from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots.