M20 PLT STRIKES TREE ON LNDG AT ARB CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

Narrative

I CLIPPED THE TOP OF A TREE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 24 AT ANN ARBOR; MI (ARB). THE APPROXIMATE TIME WAS XA00 LCL TIME; JUST AFTER DARK. THE PROB AROSE WHEN I MISJUDGED HOW LOW I WAS ON FINAL. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT OVERSHOOTING THE 3500 FT RWY; SO I SLOWED TO 80 MPH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VASI WAS OPERATING; BUT I FAILED TO PERCEIVE THE INDICATION THAT MY APCH WAS LOW. WHEN THE TREE CAME INTO VIEW I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A SMALL CLOUD OF SMOKE. THERE WAS NO TIME TO ADD PWR OR OTHERWISE AVOID BRUSHING THE TREETOP. THE LNDG WAS NORMAL. DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS SLIGHT; MAINLY SCRATCHES AND SMALL DENTS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING AND A SLIGHTLY BENT GEAR DOOR ON ONE SIDE. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF REPAIR IS $1500. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT. 1) THE ARPTS I USE MOST OF THE TIME DO NOT HAVE VASI LIGHTS; SO I HAVE NEVER MADE IT A PRACTICE TO DETERMINE THE PROPER GS BY REF THERETO. 2) I HAD NOT SHOT A NIGHT LNDG IN OVER A YR; SO NO DOUBT LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR. I WILL CONCENTRATE ON MAKING MY APCHS WITH A STEEPER ANGLE AND BEING AWARE OF THE VASI INDICATION.