Accident Details
A private pilot was conducting a night visual flight to an airport with dim runway lighting. During the base turn and final approach, the pilot reported that his attention was focused inside the cockpit as he rechecked the landing gear, mixture lever, and propeller lever positions.
Pilot Actions
While his attention was inside, the pilot noticed a sink rate had developed as the airplane's landing lights illuminated a row of 50–75 ft trees on the final approach. In response, he pulled back aggressively on the yoke to clear the trees. The airplane continued to sink and impacted the ground with a high descent rate short of the runway.
Aftermath
The impact damaged the fuselage and firewall. Following the accident, the pilot reflected that his attention should have been focused more outside the cockpit during the base turn and final approach. The pilot stated on the accident report form that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.