GAA18CA015

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during final approach, the airplane was "out of alignment to the left edge of the runway." He decided to add throttle and realign with the runway, but as he reached for the throttle to add power, at that instant, he was "blinded" by sun glare and he had "no memory of [the] events for approximately 6 seconds" after that point. He added that, just prior to impact, he saw the ground but "there was nothing that could be done." The airplane impacted an open parking lot in a nose low, left wing down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage, empennage, and both wings. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the passenger reported that during landing the airplane was crabbing to the left, but traveling forward. He reported that prior to the runway threshold, there was a momentary sun flash that "lit up the plastic windscreen." He further reported that, the pilot applied power, pulled back on the control stick, and the airplane "spiraled" and "twisted" left and downward into a parking lot. The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during final approach, the airplane was "out of alignment to the left edge of the runway." He decided to add throttle and realign with the runway, but as he reached for the throttle to add power, at that instant, he was "blinded" by sun glare, and he had "no memory of [the] events for approximately 6 seconds" after that point. He added that, just before impact, he saw the ground, but "there was nothing that could be done." The airplane impacted a parking lot in a nose-low, left-wing-down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the passenger reported that, during landing, the airplane was crabbing to the left but traveling forward. He reported that, before the runway threshold, there was a momentary sun flash that "lit up the plastic windscreen." He further reported that the pilot applied power, pulled back on the control stick, and the airplane "spiraled" and "twisted" left and downward into a parking lot. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack and then entered an aerodynamic stall/spin. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Situational awareness-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Glare-Effect on personnel