Accident Sequence
A pilot was concluding a personal cross-country flight and was on a visual approach to a runway measuring 1,800 feet in length. Witnesses observed the airplane's approach path as low as it neared the airport. According to a pilot-rated witness, the airplane's left wing contacted a series of conifer trees standing approximately 50 feet tall. Immediately following the wing strike, the airplane descended in an uncontrolled manner. It collided with a parked vehicle and subsequently came to rest in a school parking lot, located about 575 feet from the approach end of the intended runway. The witness reported that the airplane became fully engulfed by fire immediately after impacting the car.
Witness Observations
The accident occurred during a time when the sun was low on the horizon and very bright, directly in the direction the airplane was flying. Witnesses noted the sun's glare as a prominent condition. The pilot-rated witness also stated that he heard what he characterized as a power increase just prior to the wing contacting the trees.
Wreckage Examination
A thorough examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. No issues with the airframe, engine, or systems were identified that could have contributed to the accident.