Incident Summary
A nighttime landing attempt ended with a hard landing and substantial damage after the pilot encountered difficulty aligning with the runway. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, the flight was conducted at night, and he used his GPS track to align with the runway. When the runway lights were activated, the airplane was approximately 1/4 mile to the left of the runway and 1/2 mile from the approach end. To correct the alignment, the pilot executed an aggressive right turn followed by a hard left turn. While maneuvering on short final, at 50 feet above ground level (agl), the right wing struck the tops of trees lining the southeast side of the runway. The airplane then descended rapidly and landed hard, collapsing the landing gear and causing the aircraft to spin 180 degrees laterally before coming to rest against trees.
Damage Assessment
The right wing's impact with trees and the subsequent hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot stated that no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions occurred that would have precluded normal operation.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause determined that the pilot made an inadequate decision to continue an unstable approach in dark night conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and a hard landing.