No fatalities

14 Jul 2013: CESSNA A185F — LANGDON WILLIAM — Cascade, ID

Cascade, ID, United States

On 14 Jul 2013, a CESSNA A185F operated by LANGDON WILLIAM was involved in an aviation accident near Cascade, ID. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during final approach due to the sun glare that obscured the pilot's vision. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that during landing at a remote dirt airstrip, the right wing struck trees after the runway was obscured by morning sun glare, causing substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported an accident while landing at a remote dirt airstrip. According to the pilot, after turning to final approach, the runway was obscured by the glare of the morning sun. As the approach continued, approximately 30 feet above the ground, the right wing of the aircraft struck trees located adjacent to the runway.

Damage Assessment

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the landing gear boxes. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft.

Pilot Statement

The pilot stated that if he had flown a longer final approach, he would have been better able to assess the situation and avoid the trees. No other details were provided regarding the flight or the conditions.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotAltitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on personnelTree(s)