Incident Overview
A pilot reported an incident that occurred while he was landing at Pine River Airport. According to the pilot's account, he had been monitoring the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) prior to his approach. The AWOS indicated winds from 150 to 160 degrees at 12 to 14 knots, with gusts up to 18 to 20 knots. The pilot stated that the conditions appeared to be improving, with wind velocity dropping and gusts occasionally disappearing.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that he aligned the airplane with runway 14 for landing. When the airplane was at an altitude of 5 to 8 feet above the runway, a strong gust of wind moved the airplane to the right. In response, the pilot applied power to initiate a go-around. However, at an altitude of about 20 feet above the ground, the right wing of the airplane contacted trees located alongside the runway.
Outcome
Following the wing contact with the trees, the airplane turned approximately 90 degrees to the right and settled to the ground in an upright position. The pilot noted that the trees were approximately 50 feet off the side of the runway.