Mooney pilot is blinded during approach and landing at privately owned airstrip by 6 flood lights on...

Attributes
ACN	535594
Time
Date	200201
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 19az.airport
State Reference	AZ
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 K (231)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	535594
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Airport Airspace Structure Company
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

The clift castle casino which is adjacent to 7e7 airport runs very bright search lights as advertisement. These 'beams' cause loss of night vision accommodation when they 'hit you.' this is very dangerous during the landing phase at night. Complaints to the casino which is on 'indian land' are not answered. The lights are not confined to 'indian land' but sweep the entire community. Their source is on top of the indian casino. What can be done to eliminate this night hazard to aircraft? Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the casino operates the advertising flood lights from early evening on and sometimes points them down on a 45 degree angle causing the lights to light adjacent private property including the camp verdi montezuma airport (7e7). He further stated that the state of arizona has investigated this matter and can do nothing since it is on american indian land. However, the state has proposed an environmental bill to protect the night skies from lighting such as this. As far as he knows, the federal government is aware, but can not do anything since the airport is private. Therefore, not using government funds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MOONEY PLT IS BLINDED DURING APCH AND LNDG AT PRIVATELY OWNED AIRSTRIP BY 6 FLOOD LIGHTS ON TOP OF INDIAN CASINO ADJACENT TO THE AIRSTRIP. THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON EARLY EVENING AT NIGHT AND ARE SOMETIMES POINTED DOWN AT A 45 DEG ANGLE ON TO ADJACENT PRIVATE PROPERTIES.

Narrative: THE CLIFT CASTLE CASINO WHICH IS ADJACENT TO 7E7 ARPT RUNS VERY BRIGHT SEARCH LIGHTS AS ADVERTISEMENT. THESE 'BEAMS' CAUSE LOSS OF NIGHT VISION ACCOMMODATION WHEN THEY 'HIT YOU.' THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DURING THE LNDG PHASE AT NIGHT. COMPLAINTS TO THE CASINO WHICH IS ON 'INDIAN LAND' ARE NOT ANSWERED. THE LIGHTS ARE NOT CONFINED TO 'INDIAN LAND' BUT SWEEP THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THEIR SOURCE IS ON TOP OF THE INDIAN CASINO. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ELIMINATE THIS NIGHT HAZARD TO ACFT? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE CASINO OPERATES THE ADVERTISING FLOOD LIGHTS FROM EARLY EVENING ON AND SOMETIMES POINTS THEM DOWN ON A 45 DEG ANGLE CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO LIGHT ADJACENT PRIVATE PROPERTY INCLUDING THE CAMP VERDI MONTEZUMA ARPT (7E7). HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE STATE OF ARIZONA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER AND CAN DO NOTHING SINCE IT IS ON AMERICAN INDIAN LAND. HOWEVER, THE STATE HAS PROPOSED AN ENVIRONMENTAL BILL TO PROTECT THE NIGHT SKIES FROM LIGHTING SUCH AS THIS. AS FAR AS HE KNOWS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AWARE, BUT CAN NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THE ARPT IS PRIVATE. THEREFORE, NOT USING GOVERNMENT FUNDS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Mooney pilot is blinded during approach and landing at privately owned airstrip by 6 flood lights on top of indian casino adjacent to the airstrip. The lights are turned on early evening at night and are sometimes pointed down at a 45 degree angle on to adjacent private properties.