Piper PA-28-180D N7826N

Summary

On 12 March 1998 at about 23:10 local time, a Piper PA-28-180D registered N7826N was involved in an accident near Advance, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

12 March 1998 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Advance, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Twin Lakes (8A7)

Coordinates

35.9295, -80.3995

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180D

Registration

N7826N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chattanooga → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98FA101

1 person died.

The pilot's improper planned visual approach and glide path in diminished visual conditions due to sun-glare and his delayed go-around resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees on final approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passenger stated that as the flight turned onto final approach to land on runway 27, he was blinded and disoriented by the sun which was directly down, and just above the runway. He then realized he was looking at the sun and runway through tree branches. The aircraft collided with the trees and then crashed to the ground. Neither he nor the pilot were wearing sunglasses or using the aircraft's sun visors. Postcrash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, and propeller showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction. At the time and location of the accident, the sun was at an altitude of 3.3 degrees on a bearing of 268.3 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.