Piper PA46 near West Columbia, SC — 2018-07-25

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent navigation onto a service road instead of a taxiway, which resulted in a collision with a stop sign.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was taxiing the airplane and receiving progressive taxi instructions from an air traffic controller. The pilot indicated that he asked if he should turn onto the taxiway and was instructed to do so. However, instead of proceeding on the taxiway, which had a continuous painted yellow centerline, the pilot turned left onto a vehicle service road, which had a painted white "stop" marking and an adjacent stop sign. The underside of the airplane's left wing subsequently struck the stop sign, which resulted in substantial damage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Human factors

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have confirmed taxiway layout before turning onto service road.

NTSB coding

• Course deviation · Taxi

Evidence available

• Photos
• 2 docket documents

Docket documents2

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Investigative Photographsphotos