Vans RV-12iS | N702DP

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot flew an evening flight with intention of landing at Crystal river airport, but could not get the runway lights to come on, and ended up circling very low over a row of lights that appeared to be a runway, but was a well lit trailer park that appeared to be a runway. The pilot likely became confused and distracted and allowed the aircraft to exceed the critical angle of attack, whereupon the aircraft stalled and impacted a highway. The distraction was caused by the abnormal in flight condition of not being able to find the airport at night. The intended runway was several miles north but oriented perpendicular to his flight path and the lights would have been very difficult to see from his altitude.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft avoid night flight where possible, and that pilots use available technology to aid in flight planning, and fly at altitudes sufficient for visual acquisition of airfields at night. The DTSB also recommends that pilots plan to be on the ground with not less than one hour fuel remailing. The DTSB recommends that the FAA change legal minimum fuel retirements to one hour for both day an night operations.