What happened
During a scheduled flight from Great Barrier Aerodrome to Auckland Airport, a pilot was preparing to transport three passengers. While taxiing at a slow pace from the parking area toward the takeoff point for runway 24, the pilot encountered significant visibility challenges. The low angle of the rising sun, shining directly through the windscreen, obscured the view of the taxiway's edge.
As a result of this glare, the pilot failed to notice that the aircraft was drifting toward a drainage ditch measuring approximately 1.5 meters in depth. Although the pilot spotted a marker tyre in an unusual position, an attempt to correct the aircraft's course was unsuccessful. The aircraft subsequently entered the ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the pilot's ability to maintain situational awareness during the ground maneuver. Investigators examined the positioning of the sun during the early morning hours and the visibility levels within the cockpit. The inquiry established that the glare from the low-angle sunlight was a primary factor in the pilot's inability to monitor the aircraft's path relative to the edge of the taxiway.