Accident Overview
The airplane was destroyed when it struck a tree and terrain during a go-around. The flight had departed from an airport approximately 45 minutes before the accident and had flown under instrument flight rules (IFR) to the destination airport. The pilot cancelled IFR and entered the local traffic pattern for landing.
Witness Observations
A witness reported seeing the airplane over the approach end of the runway at an altitude between 150 and 175 feet above ground level (agl). The witness stated the airplane was "diving for the runway" and continued to dive until it was about halfway down the runway, at which point the nose leveled out at about 75 feet agl. About two-thirds down the runway, the airplane "banked hard to the left," and the witness could see the top of both wings. The witness lost sight of the airplane behind a line of trees and later heard a "thud" followed by another thud.
Two construction workers, working on a house about 1/8 mile from the accident site, reported hearing the airplane as it flew over the house. They described the engine noise as "extremely loud" prior to the sound of the airplane impacting trees.
Post-Accident Examination
On-site inspection revealed that the airplane impacted an oak tree about 75 feet in height located in a residential neighborhood bordering the airport property. The airplane struck the top of the tree in a left-wing-down attitude. The descent angle from the oak tree to the initial impact point was approximately 35 to 40 degrees.
Flight control cable continuity was confirmed from the flight controls to their respective attachment points on the flight control surfaces. Engine inspection revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. The propeller exhibited characteristics indicative of engine power.
The flap switch was found in the 100% (full down) setting. The flap actuator arm protruded approximately 1/4 inch from its housing, consistent with a flap setting of 100% (full down). The procedures for a balked landing/go-around in the airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook state that flaps should be set at 50% for the go-around.