What happened
The pilot attempted a night landing at an airport after encountering difficulties with the aircraft's lighting system. Specifically, the pilot was unable to extend the landing lights, which significantly reduced visibility during the final approach.
As the aircraft approached the end of the runway at approximately 25 feet above ground level, the pilot reported that the visual environment became indistinct. The runway and surrounding terrain blended into a large black spot, making it difficult to judge altitude and alignment accurately.
Attempting to recover from the unstable approach, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. However, before the aircraft could climb away, it made contact with the runway surface. This impact caused the left main landing gear to collapse. The aircraft then slid down the length of the runway and veered off to the left side before coming to a complete stop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the night landing attempt and the mechanical failure of the lighting system. Investigators examined the pilot's account regarding the inability to extend the landing lights and the subsequent visual confusion during the approach.
The physical damage to the aircraft was assessed, confirming that the left main gear collapsed upon initial contact with the runway. The investigation noted the specific altitude at which the visual impairment became critical and the timing of the go-around attempt relative to the ground contact.
Findings
Several factors contributed to this incident. The primary issue was the inability to extend the landing lights, which deprived the pilot of essential visual references during a night approach. This mechanical failure led to spatial disorientation or depth perception errors, as evidenced by the description of the runway blending into darkness.
The decision to continue the approach despite the lighting failure, combined with the subsequent difficulty in judging altitude, resulted in a hard touchdown. The collapse of the left main gear was a direct consequence of this impact. The incident highlights the critical importance of functional landing lights for night operations and the risks associated with attempting a visual landing under degraded visibility conditions.
Safety message
Pilots should ensure that all lighting systems are functional prior to night flights. If landing lights fail, pilots must consider diverting to an airport with adequate runway lighting or holding until the issue is resolved. Attempting a night landing without proper external lighting significantly increases the risk of controlled flight into terrain or hard landings due to visual illusions.