If the angle of attack had been greater, and the slowing with the same power had thus been more alarming, then perhaps the power would have been added earlier, and the trees would have been avoided. The trees would also have been further away in time, allowing the engines to spool up more before they turned into chippers.
Crashing on the airfield might also have been more benign than crashing in the forest. There'd probably have been less chance of smashing open all the fuel tanks, and it would have been easier for whatever rescuers were available to get to the wreckage.
As it was, it was close. Perhaps with three fewer feet of treetops in the engines… it might have flown away. The aircraft wasn't dragged to a dead stop - it was moving through the forest for five seconds before it stopped and burned.