Pilot’s Sunglasses Survive Plane Crash: His Ombraz Stayed On When the Engine Gave Out

Eyewear is one of the most important accessories pilots use. Keeping bright light and glare out of one’s eyes is preeminently important when you’re piloting a metal flying machine hurtling through the air thousands of feet above the ground. Especially when something goes terribly wrong, maintaining your vision is essential to surviving whatever comes next.

Flight instructor Morgan Katnik learned that lesson firsthand when he was ferrying a single-engine airplane from Sacramento, Calif., to Glenwood Springs, Colo. When his engine gave out, and his Bellanca Citabria started falling to the ground, he was in for a rough landing. But even after his plane crashed and flipped over, Katnik’s Ombraz armless sunglasses never left his face.

When Ombraz heard about his story, the brand contacted Katnik, loaded their vans with camera gear, and drove straight to meet him. This is his story.

Editor’s note: If you’re interested in donating to help Katnik with his medical bills, check out the GoFundMe campaign called “Support Morgan Katnik’s Road to Recovery.”

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