What happened
During a nighttime flight, the pilot attempted to align the aircraft with the runway using GPS tracking data. Upon activating the runway lighting, the pilot realized the aircraft type was positioned approximately 0.25 miles to the left of the runway centerline and 0.5 miles from the approach threshold. In an effort to correct the flight path, the pilot executed a series of sharp maneuvers, including an aggressive right turn followed by a hard left turn to intercept the runway.
While the aircraft was on short final approach at an altitude of approximately 50 feet above ground level, the right wing made contact with the tops of trees located along the southeast edge of the runway. This impact caused the aircraft to descend quickly and strike the ground with significant force. The force of the landing caused the landing gear to collapse and resulted in a 180-degree lateral rotation before the aircraft came to a stop against nearby trees. The impact and subsequent landing caused substantial damage to the aircraft. No mechanical issues or failures were reported by the pilot prior to the collision.
Findings
- The pilot's attempt to correct the flight path involved aggressive maneuvering during the final approach phase.
- The aircraft was significantly offset from the runway centerline prior to the corrective turns.