Incident Overview
During a night visual approach to an airport, a pilot encountered an issue with pilot-activated runway lights on short final. The lights timed out, prompting the pilot to reactivate them. Upon reactivation, the lights illuminated at a high intensity, which the pilot stated "adversely affected [her] night vision and depth perception."
Sequence of Events
While the runway lights were out, the aircraft descended below the glide path. By the time the pilot recognized the deviation, she determined that executing a go-around would not be feasible, as "the aircraft would have most likely lost lift and stalled." Consequently, the aircraft landed "short and hard," as reported by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector.
Aircraft and Mechanical Conditions
No mechanical anomalies with the aircraft were noted following the incident. The landing was attributed to the pilot's impaired vision and the resulting descent below the intended approach path.
Investigation Findings
The Federal Aviation Administration investigated the incident. The pilot's account and the inspector's observation formed the basis of the report. No additional causal or contributing factors were identified beyond the described sequence.