NTSB Factual Report

On July 20, 2001, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8374G, registered to a private owner, impacted trees during an attempted landing on a private grass strip in Lake City, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight departed a different private grass strip in Branford, Florida, at 1000.

According to witnesses, the pilot had recently cleared a grass strip in the pilot's back yard, which is approximately 1000 feet long. After making five passes over the new strip, the pilot attempted a short-field landing. On final approach, the airplane's left wing collided with a tree branch at 30 feet above ground level. The pilot continued the approach, and the airplane touched down on the nose gear, then flipped inverted.

Examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear was separated, and the vertical stabilizer and left wing spar were damaged. No evidence of previous mechanical defects was discovered, and the pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilots failure to maintain clearance during an approach to land, that resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.