20181012019769A

The pilot stated he entered the downwind leg for runway 35 at approx. 1200? AGL. Abeam the 35 threshold at approx. 1100? AGL with 80-90MPH. As I initiated a constant radius descending turn through 180 degrees to line up on runway 35. I saw that I was too low to continue descending and applied power to approx. 1900-2000 RPM which is the normal RPM in N503CM to maintain level flight at 80-90MPH at a height I estimated to be approx. 100? Above the treetops and 200? To 300? Short of the treeline. At this point everything was looking good to cross the tree line 50?-100? Above the tree tops which is approx. the height I had used before to land on RUNWAY35. As I approached the tree line the aircraft suddenly sank and before I could respond with back stick and power I hit the trees. My recollection from that point is vague at best. There was no mechanical failure, no stall/spin and in my opinion the accident was caused by a downdraft that caught the aircraft at a critical point in the landing approach.

The aircraft contacted treetops with the left wings and came to rest approximately 120 feet from the first noted impact. The aircraft came to rest inverted on the ground with the pilot trapped under the aircraft. Impact damage was noted on the left wings. There was continuity of flight controls and evidence of fuel. No mechanical defects were found during the on site investigation.