C550 crew hits trees 4 mi from the runway end while on the GPS approach, at night, in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	536414
Time
Date	200201
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower tower : sna.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Cessna Citation Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	536414
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : ground critical ground encounters other inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Jan/xx/02, departed approximately XA30Z part 91 en route to ZZZ where the aircraft is based. I was the PNF (copilot), no passenger. ZNY turned us over to elm approach. We requested the GPS approach to runway 1 at ZZZ and could we proceed direct to IAF. We were cleared for the GPS approach runway 1. Reaching xa we completed the procedure turn, the inbound course xyx. Passing xa inbound, we descended to 2700 ft to FAF then descended to 2000 ft. At 2000 ft I reported seeing lights on the ground. We were to maintain 2000 ft until reaching 3 NM point from the runway. By this time we were about 4 NM from the runway. So I stayed outside looking for the runway lights, when I heard something hit the aircraft. I looked at the altimeter -- it was indicating 1500 ft. I told the PF to check altitude. By this time the runway was in sight. Everything indicated normal and a normal landing was made. WX 33/7 6 broken, 11 overcast, 6v11 6 mi visibility, altimeter 29.75. I think the problem here was when I reported ground contact, the PF may have tried to fly visual to the runway. If he had stayed on the instruments until I reported runway in sight, this would not have happened. Upon inspection of the aircraft, it was found to have a softball size dent in the left wing about 8 ft from the wingtip and small branches around the landing gear area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C550 CREW HITS TREES 4 MI FROM THE RWY END WHILE ON THE GPS APCH, AT NIGHT, IN IMC.

Narrative: JAN/XX/02, DEPARTED APPROX XA30Z PART 91 ENRTE TO ZZZ WHERE THE ACFT IS BASED. I WAS THE PNF (COPLT), NO PAX. ZNY TURNED US OVER TO ELM APCH. WE REQUESTED THE GPS APCH TO RWY 1 AT ZZZ AND COULD WE PROCEED DIRECT TO IAF. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE GPS APCH RWY 1. REACHING XA WE COMPLETED THE PROC TURN, THE INBOUND COURSE XYX. PASSING XA INBOUND, WE DSNDED TO 2700 FT TO FAF THEN DSNDED TO 2000 FT. AT 2000 FT I RPTED SEEING LIGHTS ON THE GND. WE WERE TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL REACHING 3 NM POINT FROM THE RWY. BY THIS TIME WE WERE ABOUT 4 NM FROM THE RWY. SO I STAYED OUTSIDE LOOKING FOR THE RWY LIGHTS, WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE ACFT. I LOOKED AT THE ALTIMETER -- IT WAS INDICATING 1500 FT. I TOLD THE PF TO CHK ALT. BY THIS TIME THE RWY WAS IN SIGHT. EVERYTHING INDICATED NORMAL AND A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE. WX 33/7 6 BROKEN, 11 OVCST, 6V11 6 MI VISIBILITY, ALTIMETER 29.75. I THINK THE PROB HERE WAS WHEN I RPTED GND CONTACT, THE PF MAY HAVE TRIED TO FLY VISUAL TO THE RWY. IF HE HAD STAYED ON THE INSTS UNTIL I RPTED RWY IN SIGHT, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ACFT, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A SOFTBALL SIZE DENT IN THE L WING ABOUT 8 FT FROM THE WINGTIP AND SMALL BRANCHES AROUND THE LNDG GEAR AREA.

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.