Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
failure of the pilot to maintain adequate distance from an airport sign, while taxiing on an unfamiliar airport.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On November 25, 1996, about 1415 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150, N63414, collided with an airport warning sign while taxiing from landing at Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to Aero Tech Air Services Inc., Anchorage, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Kenai Municipal airport, Kenai, Alaska, at 1320.
On November 25, 1996, at 1455, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he was practicing for his commercial pilot certificate and intended to land at Merrill Field. Low fog conditions required the flight to divert to Lake Hood. The pilot landed on runway 31 and was taxiing to parking when the right wing struck an airport warning sign.
The pilot indicated he was unfamiliar with the Lake Hood Strip.
Damage to the right wing spar and outboard rib was confirmed on December 3, 1996, by the NTSB IIC.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC97LA007