Accident to the Robin DR400-120 registered F-GCAO on 16/11/2019 at Epinal - Dogneville AD (Vosges)

The pilot, directly joining the downwind leg, did not acquire the useful cues to join the circuit and reduced the assigned time for preparing his manoeuvre. He intended to take an aiming point very close to the threshold. After a final into the sun which increased the difficulty of keeping the visual references such as the runway limits, he lined up for a short final on the left side of the runway. Dazzled by the sun during the flare, he did not see the holding point D sign which the aeroplane’s right wing struck.