Accident Summary
On October 16, 2017, at approximately 2112 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA40 single-engine airplane, registration N105MK, struck trees and terrain while on final approach to Gustavus Airport (OH33) in Gustavus, Ohio. The private pilot was seriously injured, the passenger was not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Flight Details
The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The cross-country flight departed at 1730 central daylight time from Bult Field Airport (C56) in Monee, Illinois. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he originally planned to land at Northeast Ohio Regional Airport (HZY) in Ashtabula, Ohio, but was unable to activate the runway lights using the designated common traffic advisory frequency. He diverted to OH33 and telephoned the airport manager to request the runway lights be turned on. While orbiting the airport waiting for the lights, the pilot became disoriented and believed he was on final approach to runway 1 instead of runway 19. During the approach, he incorrectly identified a crossing road as being about 3/4 mile south of runway 1's threshold; in reality, the road was about 1 mile north of the airport. Both the pilot and passenger saw tree branches suddenly appear as the airplane descended. The pilot immediately increased engine power and pitch to avoid the trees, but the right wing struck a tree, and the airplane impacted terrain about 1/2 mile north of runway 19. The right wing, aft fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Weather and Visibility
At 2051, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport automated surface observing system, about 12 miles south of the accident site, reported calm wind, a clear sky, 10 miles surface visibility, temperature 5°C, dew point 0°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury. Sunset at the accident site occurred at 1840, and the end of civil twilight was at 1908. Moon transit was at 1051, and moonset was at 1726. The accident site was in a sparsely populated area with minimal ground light illumination, resulting in dark nighttime conditions.
Pilot Experience
The pilot reported 7 hours of prior nighttime flying experience, but none within the 90 days preceding the accident. His most recent night flight occurred on February 20, 2017, during which he made a night landing on runway 1 at OH33. Federal regulation 14 CFR 61.57(b) requires pilots to have completed 3 night takeoffs and 3 night landings within the previous 90 days to carry passengers at night.