What happened
On the night of the accident, a private pilot was concluding a cross-country personal flight under Part 91 regulations. At approximately 00:30, the pilot arrived at a private cabin airstrip and descended to an altitude of about 200 feet MSL to parallel the runway.
While flying at an airspeed of approximately 75 mph, the pilot initiated a maneuvering right turn to inspect a cabin located to the east of the airstrip. During this maneuver, the aircraft encountered a downdraft. Despite the application of full engine power, the aircraft continued to descend, ultimately colliding with several spruce trees.
The pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft sustained structural damage to the wings and the fuselage.