What happened
During a GPS instrument approach, the pilot observed the runway end identifier lights and decided to proceed with the landing. During the descent, the visual cues for the runway end temporarily vanished before becoming visible again. To maintain alignment, the pilot utilized the runway edge lights as a navigational reference for the remainder of the approach.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft was positioned approximately 225 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The plane subsequently entered a snowbank, causing the aircraft to flip over. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings and the tail section. No mechanical issues or equipment failures were reported by the pilot prior to the incident.
Findings
- The pilot continued the approach after the runway end identifier lights became obscured.
- The aircraft's position was offset from the runway centerline at the time of landing.
- Loss of visual runway references led to an improper alignment during the final stages of the approach.