The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, on left base in the traffic pattern, the airplane was high. He made a 270° descending right turn to final and add 20° of flaps. The airplane descended faster than expected and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane impacted terrain, came to rest inverted, and postcrash fire ensued.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.