On March 27, 1982, a Cessna 175 (registration N7452M) operated by Charles E. Zalewski was involved in an aviation accident near Tuscola, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudgment of runway length due to sunset glare and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an overrun and overturning of the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a landing attempt just before sunset, the pilot misjudged runway length due to low sun altitude. A subsequent go-around failed as airspeed was not regained, causing the aircraft to overrun the runway and overturn in an adjacent field.
What happened
The accident occurred during a landing operation on Runway 27 in the period just prior to sunset. The pilot reported that he recognized the aircraft was not decelerating at the expected rate. However, due to the low altitude of the setting sun, he misjudged the remaining length of the runway.
Consequently, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. He failed to obtain adequate flying speed during this climb-out phase. The aircraft ran off the departure end of the runway and entered a soft, plowed field where it overturned.
The investigation
Review of the pilot's recent flight history indicated that prior to this accident, he had made only one landing since August 1981. This limited recent experience may have contributed to the difficulty in managing airspeed and distance perception during the critical landing phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudgment of runway length due to sunset glare and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an overrun and overturning of the aircraft.