Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while taxiing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, after landing on a 3,000 by 90 ft turf runway, he back taxied on the runway. While back taxiing along the left edge of the runway, he moved his airplane as far to the left as possible to create maximum separation from an airplane that was landing. He recalled that he was focused on the other airplane's landing when his airplane's left wing collided with tall vegetation and a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after landing on a 3,000ft by 90ft turf runway, he back taxied on the runway. During the back taxi, while traveling along the left edge of the runway, he moved as far to the left as possible to create as much separation for an airplane that was landing. He recalled that he was focused on the other airplane's landing when the left wing of his airplane collided with tall vegetation and a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.