Incident Details
A pilot reported an accident during a landing at an off-airport site. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot was distracted by sunlight reflecting off a nearby river. As the main landing gear made contact with the ground, the right wing struck a tree root, resulting in substantial damage to the rear wing spar.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. He indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he landed in the opposite direction, as there were no obstacles on that approach.
Aircraft Damage
The rear wing spar sustained substantial damage from the impact with the tree root. No other damage was reported.
Pilot Comments
The pilot offered that the distraction from the sunlight reflection was a key factor in the sequence of events. He emphasized that landing in the opposite direction would have avoided the obstacle.