Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 13; Flight Crew Total 818; Flight Crew Type 20
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Airport; Human Factors
I was on a solo training flight to practice night landings on runway 27 at IJD airport. I have flown into this airport several times; including at night in the recent past; but mostly in the day. The approach to my first landing of the night seemed normal and the runway lights were clearly in sight. (This airport does not have a VASI.) I was in a stabilized descent at about 105 knots; as desired. Suddenly; branches from the tops of some trees were illuminated by the landing lights. By the time they came into sight; it was too late to avoid them. I concentrated on maintaining control of the aircraft. The branches were small enough that they had no discernible effect on the airplane's airspeed or directional control. Rather than attempt to land immediately after the collision; I applied power and climbed away from the ground. Once at a safer altitude; I checked and could find no anomalies in the sound or performance of the engines; or the operation of the flight controls; or any other system. I returned to [home airport]; where the airplane is based; so that if the landing gear or something else malfunctioned upon landing I would have access to more help than would have been available at IJD. I was distracted; though; and did forget to report a 2 mile final; as the tower had requested. The landing gear and other systems performed correctly. I landed normally and taxied to the hangar; where I found damage to the landing gear doors; taxi light; nose cone; and some dents in the wings.I inadvertently allowed the airplane to approach the runway at an excessively shallow glide path. Although my intention was to develop a capacity for night landing at a small untowered airport; in case it should someday be necessary; it would have been better for me to practice night landings at an airport with a VASI; or one with which I am much more familiar.
A small aircraft private pilot; flying a practice night visual to a non-towered airport with no VASI; struck small branches of trees on final; initiated a go-around and diverted back to his home airport. After a safe landing with all systems normal; a post flight inspection revealed moderate damage to several forward facing facets of the airframe.