Incident Overview
An 85-year-old pilot was attempting to land a Piper PA-22-150 at his private airstrip. During the final approach to the 1,500-foot-long turf runway, the airplane struck trees and then utility wires before coming to rest in an upright position.
Pilot and Flight Experience
The pilot reported a total flight experience of 2,319 hours, with the majority of those hours accumulated in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. In the 90-day period preceding the accident, the pilot had flown the accident airplane approximately 17 hours.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported around the time of the accident included calm winds, a broken ceiling at 9,000 feet, and visibility of 10 miles.
Aircraft Examination
An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and the pilot did not report any issues with the aircraft prior to the accident.