Cessna 340A N225BA

Summary

On 8 May 1996 at about 10:09 local time, a Cessna 340A registered N225BA was involved in an accident near Waukegan, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 May 1996 at 10:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Waukegan, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Waukegan Regional (UGN)

Coordinates

42.3999, -87.8505

Aircraft

Cessna 340A

Registration

N225BA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Chicago → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI96FA152

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's inability to maintain visual contact with the runway environment due to 'flash blindness' when he turned on the airplane's landing light, and his subsequent inability to regain control of the airplane after turning off the landing light due to his loss of night vision. A factor was the bright light condition encountered by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was being vectored for an ILS approach when he activated the runway edge lighting. He said he saw the lights as he was being vectored to the final approach course. While on final approach he extended the landing gear and illuminated the landing lights. The lights caused a cockpit glare and he turned them off. As the airplane was passing through 500 feet above ground, he turned the landing lights on a second time. He said he saw a big glow and turned the lights off a second time. After he did this he said he saw nothing. The airplane collided with the ground and MASLR light stand. It was found about 1 hour and 15 minutes after the ground collision. A searcher said the visibility was about 400 feet. The pilot said he was aware of a NOTAM about the inoperative VASI, REIL, and Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System and Runway Alignment Indicator (MASLR). An FAA CAMI optometrist was told the circumstance's surrounding the accident. He said what the pilot experienced was a '...classic case of flash blindness.' Information he provided showed the pilot would have a blind gap in his visual field under circumstances he encountered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.