
The pilot of N694V, a tailwheel-equipped RV-8, reported that he was taxiing for a visual flight rules (VFR) departure with the intention of conducting a flight in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, area.
He was taxiing under the direction of ground marshals in accordance with procedures in effect for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2022 fly-in.
He was briefly “blinded” by the sun reflecting off the polished wing skin of another airplane and began a shallow S-turn to compensate. As he looked over the left side of his engine cowling, he noticed an airplane emerge from the blind spot.
He applied full brakes but was unable to stop before the propeller contacted the empennage of an RV-4, N79KM.

The pilot of N79KM, a tailwheel-equipped RV-4, reported that he was stopped due to other airplanes in front of him on the taxiway.
The RV-4, N79KM, sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator.
The RV-8, N694V, sustained minor damage to both propeller blades.
The pilots of both airplanes reported no failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes before the accident.
Probable Cause: The failure of the pilot of N694V (RV-8) to maintain clearance from the preceding airplane, N79KM (RV-4), while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
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This July 2022 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 also had this happen to me, driving on a construction detour, on an unfamiliar road with moderate traffic….the worst just-right blinding angle I’ve experienced. Quick thinking, I slowed up tremendously and put on flashing emergency lights, had my visors down in the best position (not much help), and immediately angled my eyes away from the sun to the lower right. Luckily, the road curved up ahead enough to give my eyes relief, and I continued on.
When it happened to me in the air, just the right angle and time of day, even with the sunscreen down, my only choice was to temporarily change course until the sun was no longer blinding me.
When it happened in the air, I temporarily injured my eyes. They were sensitive for a day.
No matter what eyewear, as pilots, we don’t tend to wear polarized lenses, so we are able to read the instruments. I would recommend keeping a pair of dark, polarized sunglasses on hand, specifically for the blinding sun, for those few minutes, where you cannot pull over or change course (like on final approach when you’re looking out anyway).
Besides trying to avoid an accident, you can damage your eyes, too. While at Air Venture, see what remedies some vendors there have, and take time to think about options if it were to happen to you. If you’re on the ground, blinded, with nothing helping, don’t continue, talk on the radio.
My first thought reading this report was how in the world it could take two years to produce the final conclusion on this incident. I guess diagnosing “cranial rectitus” is not one of the NTSBs strong point which is in fact the cause of most types of the incidents. Ironic isn’t it?
I can relate to this. I’ve had this problem driving west late in the afternoon. Almost had a wreck westbound from DFW airport in TX on a heavily signed and barricaded interstate widening program in afternoon drive-time traffic in which everybody but me knew where they were going. No choice but to pull off at a service off-ramp and wait for the sun to sink further. Seems here that highly reflective surfaces on the accident airplane also played a role. With cars they advise not to shine the surface of the landing above the dashboard with Armorall because doing that causes blinding sun reflection. Been there also. So… what does this oracle recommend about this accident situation? Could it have been predicted by walking the site and figuring the sun would be a problem? How about non-reflective paint on forward airplane surfaces? It will be interesting to read your responses. Thanks.
Regards/J.