What happened
During a landing attempt, the pilot reported that the aircraft pulled to the left, prompting an aborted landing and a second approach. On the subsequent attempt, the pilot approached at a lower speed and touched down on the runway centerline. However, as the nose gear was lowered, the aircraft veered to the left, exited the runway, and struck trees.
The impact caused the left wing tip to shear off and the right wing to separate from the fuselage before the aircraft reached a full stop. The flight involved the pilot and three passengers, including a 14-year-old grandson seated in the front next to the pilot.
A witness informed an FAA inspector that they observed the aircraft pitching up and down during both landing attempts and noted that the flight appeared radical. The witness, who had known the pilot for many years, remarked that the pilot typically does not fly in such a manner.
The investigation
An inspection conducted by the FAA revealed no evidence of nose wheel failure.