Narrative:

While inbound from the hic VOR on a published approach to 77D (big rapids, mi) at what I thought to be 100 ft above the MDA. The aircraft made contact with something -- birds -- trees. I don't know what, as I never saw anything. At the time -- I was about 9 DME from hic and had about 3 mi to go for the 77D airport. At time of impact I thought I was straight and level at 1600 MSL (600 ft above airport) and was IMC. After impact I continued approach to 77D which was at or above minimum and made normal landing. Ground investigation suggests it to be trees, how or why still is not clear to me. In my mind I was above MDA and still had 3 or 4 mi to go and was IMC and not looking out yet.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX PLT IN A DAWN NIGHT OP HITS TREES WHILE ON IAP VOR DME APCH. POSTFLT INSPECTION REVEALED THE ACFT DAMAGE.

Narrative: WHILE INBOUND FROM THE HIC VOR ON A PUBLISHED APCH TO 77D (BIG RAPIDS, MI) AT WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE 100 FT ABOVE THE MDA. THE ACFT MADE CONTACT WITH SOMETHING -- BIRDS -- TREES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, AS I NEVER SAW ANYTHING. AT THE TIME -- I WAS ABOUT 9 DME FROM HIC AND HAD ABOUT 3 MI TO GO FOR THE 77D ARPT. AT TIME OF IMPACT I THOUGHT I WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AT 1600 MSL (600 FT ABOVE ARPT) AND WAS IMC. AFTER IMPACT I CONTINUED APCH TO 77D WHICH WAS AT OR ABOVE MINIMUM AND MADE NORMAL LNDG. GND INVESTIGATION SUGGESTS IT TO BE TREES, HOW OR WHY STILL IS NOT CLR TO ME. IN MY MIND I WAS ABOVE MDA AND STILL HAD 3 OR 4 MI TO GO AND WAS IMC AND NOT LOOKING OUT YET.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.