PA28 pilot contacts trees during night approach to vks.

Attributes
ACN	702875
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vks.airport
State Reference	MS
Altitude	agl single value : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 243 flight time type : 2013
ASRS Report	702875
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Had already made 2 night full stop lndgs at tvr and had ASOS information; 30.15 inches; wind 140 degrees at 3 KTS. Left tvr for vks and final full stop. On final approach to runway 19 at vks approximately 1/4 mi from the threshold; 80 KIAS; on runway centerline at approximately 300 ft AGL (approximately 1400 ft MSL); realized I was a bit low; and added power. I felt a bump; and realized I had apparently clipped a tree top. I landed approximately 20 seconds later without incident. Postflt inspection revealed that the right wingtip had apparently been the point of impact; as the fiberglas cap was cracked and 1 or 2 leaves were in the crack. There was no other apparent damage. Trees encroaching on flight path is an ongoing problem at vks. I also noted that when I landed; the altimeter indicated approximately 60 ft vice 106 ft using the altimeter setting from tvr approximately 6 mi away.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT CONTACTS TREES DURING NIGHT APCH TO VKS.

Narrative: HAD ALREADY MADE 2 NIGHT FULL STOP LNDGS AT TVR AND HAD ASOS INFO; 30.15 INCHES; WIND 140 DEGS AT 3 KTS. LEFT TVR FOR VKS AND FINAL FULL STOP. ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 19 AT VKS APPROX 1/4 MI FROM THE THRESHOLD; 80 KIAS; ON RWY CTRLINE AT APPROX 300 FT AGL (APPROX 1400 FT MSL); REALIZED I WAS A BIT LOW; AND ADDED PWR. I FELT A BUMP; AND REALIZED I HAD APPARENTLY CLIPPED A TREE TOP. I LANDED APPROX 20 SECONDS LATER WITHOUT INCIDENT. POSTFLT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE R WINGTIP HAD APPARENTLY BEEN THE POINT OF IMPACT; AS THE FIBERGLAS CAP WAS CRACKED AND 1 OR 2 LEAVES WERE IN THE CRACK. THERE WAS NO OTHER APPARENT DAMAGE. TREES ENCROACHING ON FLT PATH IS AN ONGOING PROB AT VKS. I ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN I LANDED; THE ALTIMETER INDICATED APPROX 60 FT VICE 106 FT USING THE ALTIMETER SETTING FROM TVR APPROX 6 MI AWAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.