Approach and Landing
The pilot contacted the ranch owner before the flight and was advised to always land south at the airstrip. En route, he checked weather at an airport about 23 nautical miles away, reporting wind from 310 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 16 knots. Upon arrival, he saw no windsock or wind indicator and discounted the airport wind information because it was over a mountain range. He decided to land south on runway 18, following the ranch owner's advice.
Go-Around and Second Attempt
During the first approach, the pilot described the landing as "too fast" and executed a go-around. On the second approach, he touched down and "felt an immediate drift to the left."
Impact and Damage
The left wing tip struck a 2-inch diameter tree at the runway edge. The airplane continued left, impacting a 4-inch diameter tree and a bank before stopping. The left wing spar sustained structural damage.
Pilot's Statement
The pilot stated that his "decision to land to the south, in a crossing tail wind with gusts, is the biggest factor for this accident."