Incident Details
During cruise flight, the airplane impacted trees and then landed uneventfully. The pilot reported that he became distracted and looked down; when he looked up, he was in clouds. He heard a loud "thump or bang" and immediately entered a climb.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that after the event, he made a planned fuel stop and discovered damage to the right wing and stabilizer. The leading edge of the right wing was crushed, the bottom of the right wing was punctured, and the leading edge of the right stabilizer was slightly crushed.
Post-Accident Inspection
Post-accident examination revealed crushing along the leading edges of the right wing and right ruddervator. A reddish brown coloration was present at the crush points. Portions of organic material, similar to trees or brush, were found lodged within the crush folds in the right wing.
Weather Observations
METAR observations from an airport 15 miles north of the reported collision point noted clear skies and unrestricted visibilities for two hours before and after the reported time of the event.