Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX99LA172

SAN DIEGO, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N6034X

Beech A36

Analysis

The pilot landed at dusk and made a 90-degree turn off the runway onto a taxiway. Thereafter, while proceeding at less than 5 miles per hour, he again turned right, entered an oval area short of the desired taxiway, and collided with a runway sign. The pilot indicated to responding officials that the collision occurred while he was looking at instruments.

Factual Information

On May 5, 1999, at 1950 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36, N6034X, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with an airport sign after landing at the San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The business flight originated from Riverside, California, about 1910. Airport officials reported that after the pilot landed at dusk on runway 27, he made a 90-degree northbound turn at taxiway intersection C4. Thereafter, while proceeding at less than 5 miles per hour, he again turned right, entered an oval area short of the desired taxiway, and collided with a runway sign. The pilot indicated to responding officials that the collision occurred while he was looking at instruments.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout while taxiing resulting in the aircraft's colliding with a runway sign. Contributing factors were dusk light conditions, the sign, and the pilot's diverting his attention to aircraft instrumentation during taxi.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports