Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an inflight collision with a tree. Contributing factors are a crosswind and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot had completed a 45 minute cross country flight and attempted to land on runway 02 at his destination airport. After touchdown, the airplane started to veer left, and the pilot aborted the landing. The pilot initiated a climb and about 10 feet above the ground, the left wing struck a 2-inch diameter tree; the airplane descended and struck the ground. Winds reported at an airport 26 miles away were from 050 degrees at 12 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 11, 1995, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N331DF, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during a go-around at the Tangier Island Airport, Tangier Island, Virginia. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Coatesville, Pennsylvania. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated in a telephone interview that he departed Coatesville, Pennsylvania, with full fuel tanks on an IFR flight to Tangier Island (TGI). The flight to TGI took about 45 minutes, and during touch down on runway 2, the airplane started to drift left. He attempted to correct with right rudder, but decided to go-around. At approximately 10 feet above the runway, during the go-around, the left wing struck a 2 inch diameter tree and then struck the ground. The pilot said that weather and wind were not a factor. The winds reported at an airport about 26 miles from TGI were from 050 degrees at 12 knots. -