Pilot Debrief

WILLIE BENNETT Glastar near Lompoc, CA — 2019-07-15

Final reportGAA19CA421
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Date
2019-07-15
Location
Lompoc, CA, USA
Airport
LPC
Aircraft
WILLIE BENNETT Glastar
Registration
N345BP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during a night landing, which resulted in impact with a tree.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while on the base leg for his third nighttime landing, the runway lights turned off. Despite his failed attempts to turn on the runway lights, he completed his base-to-final turn about 200 ft above ground level. With the runway lights not illuminated, he decided to use the blue taxiway lights parallel to the runway as his reference to land. While on final approach, the airplane struck a tree and impacted the ground inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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