Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering to final approach.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The private pilot reported that, while maneuvering to final approach to a private grass airstrip, the left wing stalled, dropped, and then impacted an elevated dike. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.