On October 25, 2003, a Piper PA-28R-200 (registration N15192) was involved in an aviation accident near Pacoima, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain visual contact with the runway environment due to limited visibility of airport lighting during a night VFR approach. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft collided with a 50-foot-tall power line pole while performing a VFR approach to the airport at night.
What happened
During a night flight under visual flight rules (VFR), the pilot departed and maneuvered over a nearby area before returning to the airport from approximately 10 miles away. At the start of the return, all airport lighting was functioning correctly. However, as the aircraft reached approximately 1.5 miles from the airport, the pilot reported that only the taxiway lighting remained visible. The aircraft subsequently impacted a power line pole located about 1 mile from the runway at an altitude of approximately 50 feet above ground level.
The investigation
An airport employee performing a routine check in an airport vehicle during the night shift reported that the airport lights were on and functioning properly at the time of the accident. A review of airport checklists confirmed that the lighting system was operational, noting only a few burned-out lights.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain visual contact with the runway environment due to limited visibility of airport lighting during a night VFR approach.