Paxson, AK, USA
N3831G
Cessna U206
The pilot reported he made an unplanned, precautionary landing during a cross country flight due to deteriorating weather conditions. After landing at a remote lodge airstrip, he had difficulty seeing a sign, and just before striking the sign, he applied the brakes and attempted to turn away from it. The left wing struck the sign, and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot said he had difficulty seeing the sign due to the reduced visibility in rain and snow.
On September 22, 2001, a Cessna U206 airplane, N3831G, received substantial damage when it collided with a sign after landing at the McLaren Lodge airstrip, located about 32 miles west of Paxson, Alaska. The private pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The flight departed the pilot's private airstrip near Talkeetna, Alaska, about 1400, and was en route to a remote landing site north of Paxson. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 24, the pilot related he encountered poor visibility in mixed rain and snow, and lowering clouds. He elected to make a precautionary landing at the McLaren lodge, and struck a dilapidated sign with the left wing during the taxi from landing. He said just prior to striking the sign, he applied maximum braking, and attempted to turn away from the sign. As he initiated the turn, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot said the rain and snow on the windshield made it difficult to see the sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a sign while taxiing after landing in mixed rain and snow. Factors associated with the accident are reduced visibility conditions due to the snow and rain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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