Dear Nouse and FullyFlapped,
I had the misfortune to hit a tree with an aircraft and I assure you, it is the most unmissable, unforgettable noise you will ever hear. The sound of the aircraft disintegrating around me is absolutely etched on my memory.... Not to mention the amount of aileron input he'd need to keep it straight and level. If he didn't notice the changed aerodynamic configuration , maybe he noticed the gallon of raw adrenalin pounding around his veins and the simultaneous clenching of a plane-full of buttocks. That little hiss is a sure sign that something's gone pear-shaped..
regards
TDD