What happened
During the final approach to land, an aircraft struck a Chevrolet Blazer traveling southbound on a road bordering the east side of the airport. The pilot reported that while on the base leg of the traffic pattern, he reduced power because the aircraft appeared slightly high. Upon turning onto final approach, the aircraft began to settle quickly, prompting the pilot to reapply power and adjust flight controls to maintain airspeed.
The pilot focused on the runway and a nearby cornfield, noting both the visible portion of the road and the runway appeared clear. As the aircraft approached the edge of the cornfield, the pilot sensed a loss of altitude and added power. However, the pilot noted that the crest of the road at the approach course was obscured by the aircraft itself. As the terrain appeared to rise toward the aircraft, the pilot interpreted the movement as sinking despite the application of power.
The impact occurred when the right main landing gear struck the frame above the left rear passenger window of the Chevrolet Blazer. Additionally, the nose gear contacted the driver's side window frame and the left side of the windshield. Following the collision, the aircraft traveled approximately 46 feet before coming to rest in a grass area roughly 443 feet before the end of runway 21. Neither the pilot nor the driver of the vehicle observed one another prior to the impact. The pilot was not injured.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot's view of the road crest was obstructed by the aircraft's own structure, leading to a misinterpretation of the rising terrain as a loss of altitude.