What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
PIC departed home grass airstrip to get fuel tanks filled at goldsboro airport approximately 10 minute flight. On return trip about 6:55 pm on 9.23.2020; during final approach to same grass runway, felt "air pocket" aircraft suddenly dropped with yawing movement, contacting tree foliage on final approach. PIC could not climb as aircraft kept descending into wooded area.
Flaps were extended for landing. Aircraft stopped, suspended in trees with main landing gear approximately 5 feet above the ground. PIC had no significant injuries, a bruised finger and pain in thigh of leg. There was substantial damage to aircraft.
PIC hours total and in make/model estimated from logbook entries provided by PIC. He stated one recent logbook was missing but he would find it, also stating it had his bfr in it.
As the FAA filed it
PIC DEPARTED HOME GRASS AIRSTRIP TO GET FUEL TANKS FILLED AT GOLDSBORO AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTE FLIGHT. ON RETURN TRIP ABOUT 6:55 PM ON 9.23.2020; DURING FINAL APPROACH TO SAME GRASS RUNWAY, FELT "AIR POCKET" AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY DROPPED WITH YAWING MOVEMENT, CONTACTING TREE FOLIAGE ON FINAL APPROACH. PIC COULD NOT CLIMB AS AIRCRAFT KEPT DESCENDING INTO WOODED AREA.
FLAPS WERE EXTENDED FOR LANDING. AIRCRAFT STOPPED, SUSPENDED IN TREES WITH MAIN LANDING GEAR APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. PIC HAD NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, A BRUISED FINGER AND PAIN IN THIGH OF LEG. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT.
PIC HOURS TOTAL AND IN MAKE/MODEL ESTIMATED FROM LOGBOOK ENTRIES PROVIDED BY PIC. HE STATED ONE RECENT LOGBOOK WAS MISSING BUT HE WOULD FIND IT, ALSO STATING IT HAD HIS BFR IN IT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.