Incident Overview
A pilot, who regularly operates from a private airstrip, was attempting to land when the aircraft encountered strong crosswind conditions. The pilot aimed to touch down before reaching an opening in the trees to avoid the crosswinds that were present. However, the approach was inadvertently higher than planned, and the aircraft remained airborne upon reaching the opening.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft passed the opening, a very strong crosswind gust struck from the left. The left wing rose, and the aircraft began to drift to the right of the runway. The pilot attempted to realign the aircraft but was unable to do so before a second gust lifted the wing even higher. While compensating for the gusts, the aircraft continued to drift right and impacted coniferous trees growing just off the right side of the airstrip.
Pilot Actions
The pilot, familiar with the airstrip, recognized the crosswind hazard and sought to land before the opening. Despite the higher-than-planned approach and the subsequent gusts, the pilot tried to correct the drift but ultimately could not avoid the trees.