Piper PA-28R-201 N6236C accident near Kingston, New York

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees/foliage at an undetermined point during the flight.

NTSB analysis

During a local flight, the pilot briefly observed a “dark mass” in his peripheral vision and felt the airplane shaking. He looked to the left and noted that the left wing was damaged. He then returned to the departure airport and landed uneventfully. All collected evidence supports the likelihood that the airplane struck trees or some other foliage during the flight. Green-colored deposits that were initially observed on the wing leading edge later turned brown; concave depressions, oriented perpendicular to the chord of the wing, were observed on the wing leading edge; and pieces of wood were recovered from within the wing. Examination of the airplane and photographs showed no evidence of an encounter with birds or other wildlife.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12LA360 for the full record.