Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During a cross-country flight, the pilot chose to land the airplane in an unimproved grassy meadow located in mountainous terrain. The pilot conducted a low approach to visually assess the landing area before the landing attempt. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down with a higher-than-anticipated ground speed, and began to drift left during the landing rollout. The airplane subsequently impacted a juniper tree and ground looped to the left, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.