LAX08CA219

The pilot was performing the first landing of a planned series of traffic pattern touch-and-go operations. During the final approach, the airplane descended rapidly and the right wing tip clipped the top of a small tree. The airplane yawed and the airspeed decreased, resulting in a hard landing on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that weather was not a factor in the accident. He believed that his failure to maintain adequate altitude on approach caused the accident, and his limited experience in the accident airplane contributed to the accident. The pilot had 0.2 hours of flight time in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

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.