What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On Saturday, November 11, 2006 at approximately 12:00 noon, the pilot privacy data omitted and sole occupant of N4549M, a Piper, PA-11, was returning to his private airfield after completing a short 20-30 minute local flight. While on approach to the airfield, the pilot stated that he observed a pick-up truck along the roadway adjacent to the field in which he was landing. The pilot stated that he focused his attention on the truck and while doing so struck the top of a tree with his right wing. The pilot subsequently lost control of the aircraft and the aircraft crashed into a grassy area short of the runway. The pilot sustained very minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 NOON, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITT^ AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF N4549M, A PIPER, PA-11, WAS RETURNING TO HIS PRIVATE AIRFIELD AFTER COMPLETING A SHORT 20-30 MINUTE LOCAL FLIGHT. WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE AIRFIELD, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED A PICK-UP TRUCK ALONG THE ROADWAY ADJACENT TO THE FIELD IN WHICH HE WAS LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FOCUSED HIS ATTENTION ON THE TRUCK AND WHILE DOING SO STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE WITH HIS RIGHT WING. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A GRASSY AREA SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SUSTAINED VERY MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.