San Diego Aircraft Accident: Runway Lights Out, Weather System Down – Preliminary Report

Natalie Brooks

4 min read

Post on May 30, 2025

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Runway Lights Failure: A Critical Safety Issue

The failure of runway lighting systems is a significant safety concern, especially at night or in low-visibility conditions. In this San Diego aircraft accident, the extent of the outage played a critical role.

Extent of the Outage

• The outage affected two primary runways, runways 27 and 9, at San Diego International Airport (SAN).
• The outage lasted approximately 45 minutes, commencing at 22:15 PST and resolving at 23:00 PST. The accident occurred at 22:30 PST, during the period of the outage.
• The approach lights, taxiway lights, and runway edge lights were all affected. This severely reduced visibility for pilots attempting to land.
• There were no prior official reports of malfunctioning runway lighting on those specific runways in the preceding month, although internal maintenance logs are currently under review.
• The near-total absence of runway lighting significantly impacted visibility, particularly considering the low cloud cover and light rain at the time of the accident.

Potential Causes of Failure

The investigation into the root cause of the San Diego runway lights failure is ongoing, but several potential factors are being explored:

• The investigation team is examining the possibility of a power grid failure affecting the airport's electrical supply.
• Equipment malfunction, including potential failures in the lighting control systems or individual light fixtures, is also under scrutiny.
• A thorough review of recent maintenance records is underway to assess whether any deferred maintenance contributed to the failure.
• Similar incidents at other airports, although rare, are being studied to identify common contributing factors.
• The airport's backup power systems were activated, but experienced a delay in restoring power to the affected runways, possibly due to a software glitch in the automated switching system.

Weather System Outage: Exacerbating the Situation

The simultaneous outage of the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at San Diego International Airport significantly exacerbated the situation caused by the runway lights failure.

Impact on Pilot Awareness

The lack of real-time weather data severely hampered pilots' ability to make informed decisions about landing:

• At the time of the accident, conditions included low cloud cover (approximately 200 feet), light rain, and reduced visibility.
• Pilots had limited access to alternative weather sources due to the AWOS outage. Ground-based communication with air traffic control was hampered by the overall communication breakdown.
• The weather system outage lasted for approximately one hour, overlapping significantly with the runway lights failure. This prolonged the period of reduced visibility and hampered effective decision-making.

Investigation into System Failure

The investigation into the weather system outage is also ongoing, and several areas are being investigated:

• The investigation team is examining potential software glitches, hardware failures, and possible communication network issues within the AWOS.
• The age of the system (installed in 2008) and its maintenance history are being reviewed to assess whether aging components contributed to the failure.
• The impact of potential budget cuts or staffing shortages on preventative maintenance is also being considered.

Preliminary Findings and Next Steps

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the San Diego aircraft accident.

NTSB Involvement

• The NTSB launched a formal investigation immediately following the accident.
• Preliminary findings suggest a combination of runway lights failure and weather system outage were major contributing factors to the incident.
• The full investigation is expected to take 12-18 months.

Airport Response and Safety Improvements

The airport has taken several steps in response to the accident:

• Maintenance protocols for runway lighting and weather systems are under review, with a focus on improved redundancy and preventative maintenance.
• The airport is exploring options to upgrade its runway lighting systems, including the implementation of more robust backup power systems and improved monitoring capabilities.
• Plans are underway to upgrade the AWOS and improve backup weather data sources for pilots.

Conclusion:

The San Diego aircraft accident highlights the critical need for reliable infrastructure and robust safety protocols within the aviation industry. The preliminary report reveals a concerning combination of factors leading to the incident, emphasizing the cascading effect of system failures. The ongoing NTSB investigation is crucial to understanding the root causes and preventing similar San Diego aircraft accidents in the future. Stay informed about the ongoing investigation for updates on the findings and implemented safety improvements. Understanding the factors involved in this San Diego aircraft accident is a critical step toward ensuring safer skies.