Incident Overview
A pilot flying at night over mountainous terrain at an altitude of 6,500 ft reported encountering turbulence and downdrafts. During the encounter, the pilot felt a couple of impacts on the left side of the aircraft. Initially suspecting a bird strike, the pilot continued to the destination airport.
Post-Flight Observations
Upon arrival, the pilot noticed that the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was transmitting over the radio. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed.
Examination Findings
A postaccident examination revealed that the left wing had struck a tree. The elevation at the accident location, as provided by the pilot's latitude and longitude coordinates, was approximately 5,000 ft. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.