N3350T

On November 25, 1998, at 1300 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3350T, collided with trees during a go-around from an emergency landing near Aiken, South Carolina. The personal cross country flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time the accident, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed from Suffolk, Virginia, at 0955.

The pilot reported that he was enroute to Crestview, Florida, and had planned a refueling stop in Saluda, South Carolina. During the descent from 8500 feet, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. Attempts, by the pilot, to restore full engine power failed. The pilot selected a field for an emergency landing, while on final approach to land, the engine regained full power. At that point, the pilot elected to go-around. During the climbout phase of the go-around maneuver, the airplane collided with trees on the departure end of the proposed landing site.

According to the pilot, the collision with the trees separated the left main landing gear assembly, and the right wing sustained substantial structural damage. The pilot flew the airplane to Aiken, South Carolina, and after touchdown on runway 24, the airplane skidded off the left side of the runway. During the engine loss of power, weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.