What happened
The aircraft was conducting a standard approach to land when the pilot encountered significant visual impairment due to environmental conditions. Specifically, the pilot was momentarily blinded by intense glare from the sun combined with its reflection off the surface of the water below. This loss of visual reference caused the airplane to descend prematurely, striking a berm approximately 4 feet high located about 200 feet from the approach end of the runway.
Following the impact with the berm, the landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then touched down on the runway surface but immediately nosed over, coming to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and the aircraft revealed that the landing gear sustained collapse due to the initial impact with the berm. The sequence of events indicates a controlled flight into terrain prior to reaching the intended runway threshold, driven by the pilot's temporary inability to see the ground reference.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the pilot's momentary loss of visual orientation caused by sun glare. The combination of direct sunlight and its reflection from the water surface created a hazardous visual environment that prevented the pilot from maintaining the correct glide path. This resulted in the aircraft descending below the safe altitude for the final approach segment.