What happened
During the initial climb phase of flight, the pilot reported that smoke began filling the cockpit. This prompted an emergency return to the airfield for a landing. During the approach and subsequent landing roll, the pilot's visibility was significantly compromised by a combination of the internal smoke and existing ground fog.
As the aircraft decelerated on the runway, it drifted off the left side of the pavement. The aircraft subsequently breached a cow fence and collided with a tree. Upon impact with a fence post, the wing structure was punctured, which ignited a post-crash fire in the left wing area. The intensity of the flames resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot, who was the only person on board, managed to evacuate the wreckage and sustained minor injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident highlighted several contributing environmental and mechanical factors. The primary difficulties faced by the crew included reduced visibility caused by smoke in the cockpit and heavy fog during a night operation. The sequence of events was further complicated by the aircraft's collision with external objects, specifically the fence and the tree, which directly led to the wing puncture and subsequent fire.