Controlled Flight Into Terrain · NTSB CEN12FA517
BELLANCA 7GCBC — Imperial, NE
| Date | August 4, 2012 |
| Location | Imperial, NE |
| Aircraft | BELLANCA 7GCBC |
| Purpose of flight | Business |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 54 |
| Pilot total time | 280 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from rising terrain while flying toward the rising sun, which interfered with his ability to see the terrain.
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Glare-Effect on personnel - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-(general)-Pilot - C
What happened
The airplane impacted rising terrain while traveling in a generally eastward direction. Postaccident examination of the airplane and its systems did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. At the time of the accident, the airplane was travelling east into the rising sun. The sun’s position was about 14 degrees above the horizon and 80 degrees east of north. It is likely that the pilot was blinded by the sun during this portion of the flight and did not see the rising terrain.