Accident Summary
The accident occurred during an aborted landing sequence. The aircraft was destroyed after impacting a tree and the terrain, followed by a post-impact fire.
Pilot Actions
The pilot indicated that he believed the left tire had failed. To compensate, he increased engine power and raised one notch of flaps. He stated that airspeed was insufficient, resulting in the left wingtip striking a tree. The airplane subsequently hit a marsh and caught fire.
Site Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the initial tire imprints from touchdown were located at the midpoint of the 2,822-foot-long grass runway. Subsequent bounces left tire marks that burned the grass down to bare dirt. Investigators searched the grass strip but found no rubber debris, tire fragments, or other aircraft components. The fuselage was entirely consumed by the fire. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The throttle and mixture controls were positioned fully forward. No pre-existing mechanical anomalies were identified. The wind at the time was variable at 3 knots.
Aircraft Condition
The aircraft was destroyed beyond repair. The post-crash fire severely damaged the fuselage. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction was found during the examination.