Accident Details
According to the pilot, the accident occurred during a landing rollout in the late afternoon. The pilot had landed to the west, and his vision was limited by the afternoon sun, which blinded him. As a result, the airplane drifted off the right side of the runway, struck soft ground, and veered into a ditch. The impact caused substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Sunset Information
According to data from the United States Naval Observatory, official sunset was at 1748. The accident occurred about 30 minutes before sunset.