Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after landing, they mistakenly identified a snow- and ice-covered area as a taxiway and turned the aircraft off the actual taxiway. The aircraft then struck a snowbank, which collapsed the nosegear.
Taxiway Conditions
The taxiway was free of ice and snow, making it easily distinguishable from the surrounding snow and ice at its edges. However, the blue taxiway edge light, which marks the edge of the taxiway, was not illuminated at the time of the incident.
Pilot Background
The pilot was very familiar with the airport, having flown in and out on numerous occasions. Despite this familiarity, the error occurred.
Operational Note
The report states that a significant reduction in forward speed after landing is required before executing a turn to the taxiway. This speed reduction is necessary to maintain control and avoid such incidents.
Summary
The incident involved a pilot's misidentification of a snow-covered area as a taxiway due to the lack of a functioning blue edge light and the visual similarity of the snow-covered area to the taxiway. The resulting collision with a snowbank caused structural damage to the nosegear.