NTSB Factual Report

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was performing the first landing of a planned series of touch-and-go traffic pattern operations. He noted that during the final approach, he allowed the airplane to descend too quickly, and the right wing tip clipped the top of a small tree. There was a significant change in direction, the airspeed reduced rapidly, and the airplane landed hard on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that weather was not a factor in the accident. He stated that he believed that the cause of the accident was his failure to maintain adequate altitude on the approach. Furthermore, he thought that his limited experience in the accident airplane, as well as the restricted forward visibility from the cockpit, contributed to the accident. He reported a total of 0.2 hours of flight time in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glideslope and clearance from obstacles. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's limited experience in the airplane type.