CHI89LA001

Factual narrative

THE PILOT FLEW A VOR APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND ON THE APPROACH RUNWAY. HE EXECUTED A CIRCLING VFR PATTERN TO LAND ON THE RECIPROCAL RUNWAY, THEN FLEW INTO THE GROUND FOG IN THE DESCENDING BASE TURN. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE WHILE IN THE TURN. THE PILOT HAD RECIEVED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEF OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND SAW PATCHY GROUND FOG PRIOR TO EXECUTING THE APPROACH. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD LEFT AT 0830 THE PREVIOUS DAY, FLOWN TO A FOOTBALL GAME, AND WERE RETURNING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0050 EST. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12