20 Sep 2015: CESSNA 172M — TRAVIS LESATZ

20 Sep 2015: CESSNA 172M — TRAVIS LESATZ

No fatalities • Shiocton, WI, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to continue to land at an unlighted airstrip, at night, after the landing light failed on approach, which resulted in a bounced landing, runway excursion, and collision with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot reported he was making an approach to landing at night to an unlit grass airstrip. According to the pilot, the landing light went out about 100 feet above the ground, and he lost depth perception. The pilot continued the landing and bounced once. The airplane veered off the runway to the right into a cornfield, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to rudder, vertical stabilizer, and left wing.

Other than the landing light, the pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • cause Exterior lighting — Failure
  • cause Pilot
  • cause Landing flare — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Effect on operation

Conditions

Weather
VMC, vis 10sm

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