What happened
During an approach to runway 17 via the VOR, the aircraft was operating with a minimum descent altitude of 980 feet and a field elevation of 590 feet. The missed approach point was located 10.4 miles from the Waco VOR, aligning with the runway threshold. While descending, the pilot reported that a passenger in the front right seat identified the airport visually. After the pilot confirmed the runway environment was in sight, the descent toward the runway continued.
However, the pilot determined that the remaining runway length was insufficient for a safe landing. In response, the pilot began a right turn to perform a missed approach. During this maneuver, the right wing of the aircraft struck the tops of trees. Following the initial impact, the aircraft traveled through the tree line for roughly 400 feet on a 344-degree track before finally coming to a stop on a heading of 230 degrees.
Findings
An investigation by an FAA inspector at the site noted the flight path following the collision with the vegetation. The primary factor in the accident was the insufficient runway length available for the landing attempt, which necessitated the aborted approach maneuver that led to the wing strike.