What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot stated he was landing on runway 23 at Martin Field in College Place, WA. The winds at traffic pattern altutude caused him to over fly the normal route he used in the traffic pattern at Martin Field. When he turned final the sun was low on the horizon and directly in his eyes. He was momentarily blinded by the sun. He struck a hedge of trees that was aligned with the final approach course. The collision caused the aircraft to slow and the pilot lost control and the aircraft struck the ground.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 23 AT MARTIN FIELD IN COLLEGE PLACE, WA. THE WINDS AT TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTUTUDE CAUSED HIM TO OVER FLY THE NORMAL ROUTE HE USED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MARTIN FIELD. WHEN HE TURNED FINAL THE SUN WAS LOW ON THE HORIZON AND DIRECTLY IN HIS EYES. HE WAS MOMENTARILY BLINDED BY THE SUN. HE STRUCK A HEDGE OF TREES THAT WAS ALIGNED WITH THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. THE COLLISION CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SLOW AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.