What happened
The pilot operated an aircraft on a flight that included a low approach over a body of water. Upon reaching the end of this approach phase, the pilot initiated a climbing left turn. During the roll to the left, the left wing made contact with the surface of the lake. Despite this incident, the pilot continued the flight and successfully returned to the departure airport without further complications.
The investigation
Following the event, the pilot provided a report detailing the circumstances leading to the wing strike. The pilot identified specific environmental factors that contributed to the difficulty in maintaining situational awareness during the maneuver.
Findings
The primary contributing factors cited by the pilot were the visual conditions present at the time of the accident. Specifically, the glassy water surface and the dusk light condition impaired the pilot's ability to accurately judge altitude and distance relative to the water. These conditions are known to create optical illusions that can lead to spatial disorientation or misjudgment of height above terrain.
Safety message
Pilots operating near large bodies of water during low-light conditions should exercise heightened caution. Glassy water surfaces can reflect the sky, removing visual depth cues and making it difficult to distinguish between the horizon and the water surface. This effect is exacerbated at dusk, where contrast is reduced. Pilots should rely on instruments rather than visual references when navigating over featureless terrain or water in such conditions.