PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Chart Or Publication; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
The flight departed on a canned flight plan and climbed up to 8;000 FT and was doing 115-125 over the ground. On the enroute portion of the flight the weather at my destination dropped to 1-3/4 SM and 500 overcast. I was cleared for the approach. Once inside the TAA for the approach I descended according to the TAA. I crossed over Initial Approach fix and started a descent down to 2;200 FT at the first waypoint and 1;500 FT at the next point. Upon crossing the second waypoint I broke out and saw a tree I maneuvered the plane to the right because the tree was on the left in hopes of avoiding it. As a turned the airplane I pushed all of my levers forward and started a climbout on the missed approach. Once I had started a climb I put the gear and flaps up. Once I reached a safe altitude I assessed the airplane by first looking at my engines gauges and they were both reading normal. Secondly I looked outside the airplane to see if there was any damage done to the left side and the only thing I saw was the left oil door had opened up. Lastly I looked at my fuel gauges and they were both still reading sufficient of a tank on the mains and on the outboards. With this information I contacted Center and told them I would like to head direct to a nearby major airport. It was the safest opinion because the weather was higher there; fire and rescue was there. I climbed up to 9;000 FT and proceeded direct to my divert airport. Once I checked on with Approach I declared an emergency as a precaution. Approach asked me how many souls and fuel I had remaining. I had 5 people onboard including myself and 1hr and 45 minutes of fuel remaining. Approach asked if I would like the ILS to Runway XXL and I said yes. I flew the approach broke out; landed and taxied back to the Company's ramp.I missed read the approach plate and was low on the approach due to it.
A PA-31 pilot collided with a tree at a remote airport after he misread the RNAV GPS Approach plate and descended to minimums nearly 3 miles from the airport. A go-around was executed; an emergency declared and the flight diverted to a nearby airport.