Incident Overview
A private pilot was conducting the third leg of a cross-country flight when he lost his ground reference and became disoriented. After becoming lost, the pilot sighted an airfield and decided to land in order to determine his location.
Sequence of Events
While on short final approach to the runway, the pilot allowed the airplane to descend below a normal glideslope. As a result, the left main landing gear contacted a tree. The collision caused the airplane's airspeed to decay rapidly, leading to an aerodynamic stall. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and cartwheeled.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The pilot was a private pilot. No further details regarding the aircraft's make, model, or registration were provided in the source. The date, time, location, and operator of the flight were not specified. No information was given about occupants, injuries, or extent of damage.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot lost ground reference and became lost, prompting a decision to land at an unfamiliar airfield. During the landing attempt, the aircraft descended below a normal approach path, resulting in a tree strike, stall, and subsequent cartwheel.