What happened
On April 4, 2023, at approximately 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-236 was performing a visual flight rules (VFR) operation from Aeródromo Torca to Aeródromo Curacaví (SCCV). The aircraft was carrying a pilot and two passengers, one of whom was also a rated pilot.
As the aircraft began its descent to intercept the left base for runway 29, the pilot encountered direct sunlight, which significantly obscured the view of the terrain. While executing the final approach, the aircraft struck the canopy of a tree located approximately 429 meters from the runway threshold on private property. The impact caused the pilot to feel a jolt on the right wing, but the flight continued until a successful landing was completed at the aerodrome.
Upon parking the aircraft, a post-flight inspection revealed structural damage to the right wing and the lower engine cowling. There were no injuries to the three occupants.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft and the site of the impact. The investigation confirmed that the impact occurred with a tree approximately 25 meters in height. Physical inspection of the Piper PA-28-236 revealed structural failures on the right wing, including a fracture in the fuel tank skin and deformation of the leading edge at the wing root, which resulted in the loss of fuel from the right tank. Additionally, debris from the tree was found lodged in the engine's air intake and lower landing gear cowling.
Maintenance records showed the aircraft had undergone its annual inspection in January 2023, and the engine and propeller were within their service intervals. The fuel was verified as uncontaminated AVGAS 100LL. Meteorological data confirmed clear skies and calm winds at the time of the event, though the sun's position was a factor in the pilot's visibility.
Findings
- The primary cause of the impact was sun glare which prevented the pilot from clearly seeing the terrain during the final approach.
- The aircraft sustained significant structural damage to the right wing, including broken rivets and a ruptured fuel tank.
- The impact with the tree branches caused secondary damage to the engine's lower cowling and air intake.