An unusually detailed statement from the ATSB.
ATSB executive director of transport safety Nat Nagy said the circumstances of what happened were not yet fully understood.
"On Saturday in the afternoon, a Cessna 182 aircraft with two people on board departed Sheffield for a private airstrip near Tomahawk," he said.
"Just prior to arriving, witness reports indicate that they conducted a number of orbits to the south-east of the field, and then went about a number of attempted approaches to land."
Mr Nagy said the plane landed then half way down the strip.
"It subsequently bounced, and following that the pilot did what's called a go-around, where they increase the power and attempt to climb out," he said.
"As part of that climb out, the aircraft failed to climb above a tree towards the end, or rather past the end of the strip, and they did hit that tree, and subsequently came to rest on the side on the ground there."
He said ATSB investigators would remain on site for two to three days.