The pilot reported that while on base leg for his third nighttime landing at the airport in Lompoc, California, the runway lights turned off.
Despite his failed attempts to turn on the runway lights, he completed his base to final turn about 200 feet agl. With the runway lights not illuminated, he decided to use the blue taxiway lights parallel of the runway as his reference to land. While on final approach, the Glastar hit a tree, then hit the ground inverted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures to the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath during a night landing, which resulted in impact with a tree.
This July 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I always thought that Pilot Controlled Lights should give some warning (such as flashing) before leaving a pilot in the dark.
200 total flight hours; hasn’t flown in 4/5 years. In the last couple months, he decided to start flying again….
“He was preparing to renew his Biannual Flight Review in anticipation for the yearly airport fly-in event. The airplane did not have a current conditional inspection nor a current registration.”
‘Nuf said: Dumb and illegal. More proof that you can’t fix stupid.
Glad he wasn’t seriously injured.
Always be prepaired to sing the go around song and do so.