Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to establish a final approach course to the runway surface during a night landing. A factor was the inoperative aircraft landing light.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, while on approach to the dimly lighted runway, he discovered that the aircraft landing light would not come on. His research of the problem disclosed that the landing light circuit breaker had popped, but after resetting the breaker, the landing light still failed to operate. The pilot elected to continue the approach to a lighted area on the airport. The airplane touched down in the grass between the runway and taxiway, and collided with a depression in the grassy area.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 1, 1993, at 2100 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N64206, collided with the ground during a night landing at the Tuskegee Municipal Airport, Tuskegee, Alabama. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the two occupants were not injured. The local flight departed Tuskegee, at 1940 hours. According to the pilot, he experienced some difficulty identifying the runway with the dimmed lights, and lined up on final between the taxiway and runway. Additionally, the pilot experienced a malfunction of the aircraft landing light. The airplane touched down between the runway and taxiway, and during rollout the airplane collided with a depression in the grassy area. No other mechanical problems were reported. -