N201HG

On July 4, 1999, at 1208 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N201HG, collided with trees and the terrain while on final approach to land on runway 28 at the Harbor Springs Airport, Harbor Springs, Michigan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Wheeling, Illinois, at 0908 central daylight time.

The pilot reported that he was informed by the Harbor Springs Unicom that the winds were from 270 degrees at 10 to 12 knots. He stated he flew the traffic pattern to land on runway 28. The pilot reported that the airplane was "buffeted" by winds while on final approach at an airspeed of 74 knots with full flaps extended. He continued to report, "At about 1,000 feet from the end of the runway we were hit by a wind shear (like a wall). The aircraft immediately dropped and moved to the left. I applied power and brought the nose up a little when all of a sudden we hit something (later saw it to be the top of a pine tree)." This resulted in the airplane traveling to the left of the extended centerline. He reported he reduced power and landed straight ahead in the grass off the left side of the runway. A short time later the pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp area.

Winds reported at Pellston, Michigan (12 miles northeast of Harbor Springs) at 1152 edt, were from 240 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots.