Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 1770; Flight Crew Type 1000
Physiological - Other
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
While approaching TUS from the north; I heard two air carrier aircraft report being illuminated by a green laser on the ground. The first aircraft reported seeing the laser on about a 15 mile final; and the second reported being illuminated on about a 5 mile final. As I approached the airport (on about a 1.5 mile final); my aircraft was also illuminated by the laser; which appeared to be within about a mile of the final approach path; on the left side of the aircraft. Although my night vision was temporarily affected by the laser; my student was able to safely land the aircraft; and my vision returned to normal within a few minutes. All three incidents took place within roughly a 15 minute period; and the location of the laser source reported by the air carrier crews was in the same area I observed the source to be. Because the laser source was so close to the approach end of the runway; there was a clear potential for an accident to occur had a faster moving aircraft been illuminated at the same location where I was hit by the beam. Laser incidents have been a fairly regular occurrence in this area over the last two years; and I believe it is only the relatively low levels of nighttime traffic into the local airports that has prevented the laser events from causing serious problems.
Cessna pilot reports being illuminated by a green laser on a 1.5 mile final to TUS; causing momentary loss of night vision. The student continues the approach to landing. Two air carrier aircraft landing ahead of the reporter were also illuminated.