M20 pilot strikes tree on landing at arb causing minor damage to the aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	593198
Time
Date	200309
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : arb.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : arb.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 J (201)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 21.2 flight time total : 1088 flight time type : 318.4
ASRS Report	593198
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I clipped the top of a tree on final approach to runway 24 at ann arbor, mi (arb). The approximate time was XA00 local time, just after dark. The problem arose when I misjudged how low I was on final. I was concerned about overshooting the 3500 ft runway, so I slowed to 80 mph. I understand that the VASI was operating, but I failed to perceive the indication that my approach was low. When the tree came into view I first thought it was a small cloud of smoke. There was no time to add power or otherwise avoid brushing the treetop. The landing was normal. Damage to the airplane was slight, mainly scratches and small dents on the leading edge of the wing and a slightly bent gear door on one side. Preliminary estimate of the cost of repair is $1500. There is no doubt in my mind about the causes of the accident. 1) the airports I use most of the time do not have VASI lights, so I have never made it a practice to determine the proper GS by reference thereto. 2) I had not shot a night landing in over a yr, so no doubt lack of recent experience was a factor. I will concentrate on making my approachs with a steeper angle and being aware of the VASI indication.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20 PLT STRIKES TREE ON LNDG AT ARB CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

Narrative: I CLIPPED THE TOP OF A TREE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 24 AT ANN ARBOR, MI (ARB). THE APPROXIMATE TIME WAS XA00 LCL TIME, JUST AFTER DARK. THE PROB AROSE WHEN I MISJUDGED HOW LOW I WAS ON FINAL. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT OVERSHOOTING THE 3500 FT RWY, SO I SLOWED TO 80 MPH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VASI WAS OPERATING, BUT I FAILED TO PERCEIVE THE INDICATION THAT MY APCH WAS LOW. WHEN THE TREE CAME INTO VIEW I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A SMALL CLOUD OF SMOKE. THERE WAS NO TIME TO ADD PWR OR OTHERWISE AVOID BRUSHING THE TREETOP. THE LNDG WAS NORMAL. DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS SLIGHT, MAINLY SCRATCHES AND SMALL DENTS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING AND A SLIGHTLY BENT GEAR DOOR ON ONE SIDE. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF REPAIR IS $1500. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT. 1) THE ARPTS I USE MOST OF THE TIME DO NOT HAVE VASI LIGHTS, SO I HAVE NEVER MADE IT A PRACTICE TO DETERMINE THE PROPER GS BY REF THERETO. 2) I HAD NOT SHOT A NIGHT LNDG IN OVER A YR, SO NO DOUBT LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR. I WILL CONCENTRATE ON MAKING MY APCHS WITH A STEEPER ANGLE AND BEING AWARE OF THE VASI INDICATION.

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.