Extra EA300 N361LX accident near Wonder Lake, Illinois

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent path to the runway after he became disorientated by sun glare while on final approach, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was flying the airplane in the traffic pattern when it descended into trees and terrain while on final approach to the runway. A review of aircraft track data and the wreckage debris path concluded that the airplane descended nearly wings-level into trees about 0.28 nautical miles (nm) from the runway threshold. A witness reported that he saw an airplane in a descent toward the airport and heard its engine running. There was no change in engine noise as the airplane descended below his sightline and then he heard a sound resembling a wood-chipper.

Examination of the airplane, engine, and propeller revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation, nor was there any evidence of a bird strike.

The accident occurred about 9 minutes before sunset, with the sun positioned about 1.1° above the horizon and 27.5° left of the runway centerline. At the time of the accident, there was another pilot flying in the traffic pattern who reported being slightly disoriented by sun glare while he turned onto final approach.

Aeromedical research suggests that sun glare can be visually debilitating and lead to operational errors and accidents. Specifically, sun glare during takeoff and landing phases can result in pilot perceptual issues that lead to collisions with objects or terrain when the pilot under- or over-shoots the runway and/or fails to maintain alignment with the runway.

It is likely that the pilot became disoriented by sun glare after he turned the airplane onto final approach, which contributed to his failure to maintain a normal descent profile to the runway and the inflight collision with trees and terrain.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23FA046 for the full record.