Accident Narrative
The pilot reported that he conducted an uneventful flight to a nearby airport before departing to return to his home airport. The accident occurred during the subsequent landing attempt; however, due to his injuries, the pilot did not recall the approach or the accident sequence.
Witness Account
A witness who lived near the airport heard the airplane and saw it fly over midfield before it entered the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 13. The witness noted that the engine power was "pulled back." A few minutes later, the witness heard an impact and rushed to the accident site.
Accident Site
The airplane impacted trees and terrain on the left side of runway 13 and came to rest about 1,000 ft from the approach end of the runway.
Aircraft Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that there were no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.
Weather Conditions
The wind reported at an airport 10 miles to the southeast of the accident location was from 290° at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots.