What happened
A solo private pilot was attempting to land a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an unprepared site surrounded by dense vegetation. The location was not an official airport but rather an open area covered in tundra-like terrain. As the aircraft approached the ground, the pilot inadvertently allowed the plane to descend below the intended glide path just before touchdown.
The left wing struck a stand of trees, causing the airplane to pivot sharply to the left. During this uncontrolled rotation, the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer impacted the tundra-covered terrain. The impact resulted in significant structural damage to the airframe, specifically affecting the right wing spar and the right horizontal stabilizer.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the aircraft. The pilot reported that the airplane was functioning normally prior to the landing attempt. The damage was consistent with the described sequence of events involving tree contact and ground impact during the pivot.
Findings
The accident occurred during the final phase of flight, specifically during landing. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to land at an unprepared site surrounded by trees and the inadvertent descent below the intended glide path. The lack of mechanical issues points to operational error as the primary factor.