Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to adequate clearance from obstacles while maneuvering during the landing approach and the instructor pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane contacting a tree and terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was performing a practice power off 180o landing in preparation for his commercial check ride with a flight instructor onboard acting as observer. During the base turn to land, the pilot realized he was too high and began to conduct “S” turns to increase descent rate. He then leveled the airplane but was too low and positioned left of the runway centerline. The flight instructor observed that the airplane was close to trees and called for the pilot to conduct a go around. The airplane then contacted the top of a tree and then the ground. Both of the airplane’s wings, the fuselage, and the empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would preclude normal operation.