What happened
The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules when it struck trees while maneuvering from the base leg to the final approach segment for landing at the destination airport. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
During post-accident interviews, the pilot provided an account of the events leading up to the collision. He reported that visibility conditions were poor due to haze, which was compounded by significant sun glare. Additionally, the pilot noted that the windshield was crazed, further impairing his forward vision.
These environmental factors contributed to a misjudgment of both the descent rate and alignment with the runway. The pilot acknowledged that initiating a go-around would have been the appropriate corrective action under those circumstances but did not do so before impact.
The investigation
Investigation of the wreckage confirmed the substantial damage sustained from the tree strike. No mechanical failures or pre-impact anomalies were identified as contributing factors to the accident sequence.