What happened
The incident occurred during a night flight operation at an airport where the pilot-controlled runway lighting system was not functioning. Despite receiving a preflight briefing that confirmed the lights were out and properly Notam'd, the pilot elected to attempt a landing in these reduced visibility conditions.
During the approach phase, the pilot executed a series of approximately six low passes over the runway. This pattern suggests an attempt to visually acquire the runway environment or assess conditions before committing to a final approach. On one of these attempts, the aircraft collided with the top of a tree situated slightly to the left of the extended runway centerline.
Following the impact, the aircraft lost control and entered an uncontrolled descent into brushy terrain. The collision with the tree and subsequent loss of altitude indicate that the pilot was unable to maintain adequate situational awareness or obstacle clearance during the final stages of the approach.
The investigation
Investigation of the circumstances surrounding the accident focused on the operational environment and the status of airport infrastructure. It was confirmed that the runway lights were indeed inoperative at the time of the event. Crucially, this condition had been properly reported via a Notice to Airmen (Notam), ensuring that pilots were aware of the lack of lighting prior to flight.
The preflight briefing provided to the pilot explicitly included information regarding the inoperative lights. This confirms that the pilot was informed of the hazard before departing or beginning the approach sequence. The investigation did not identify any mechanical failures with the aircraft itself as a primary factor, but rather highlighted the challenges of navigating an unlit runway environment at night.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the inoperative runway lights and the pilot's decision to continue operations despite the known deficiency. The pilot had been adequately warned about the lighting status through the Notam and preflight briefing, yet proceeded with a night landing attempt that required visual references for safe obstacle avoidance.
The series of low passes indicates difficulty in establishing a stable approach or visually identifying the runway threshold and surrounding obstacles. The collision with the tree located near the extended centerline underscores the critical importance of reliable lighting systems for night operations. Without adequate visual cues, maintaining proper lateral and vertical guidance becomes significantly more difficult, increasing the risk of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) or obstacle strikes.
Safety message
Pilots must carefully evaluate their ability to safely operate at airports with inoperative lighting systems, particularly during night conditions. Even when a Notam is received and the deficiency is reported, the lack of visual references can severely compromise situational awareness. If the runway environment cannot be positively identified or if stable approach criteria cannot be met, pilots should consider diverting to an alternate airport with fully functional lighting facilities rather than attempting a high-risk landing.