Accident
A Cessna 120 landed left of the runway on a rough dirt area and nosed over during the landing roll. The pilot reported that the airport was not lighted. The runway was equipped with white reflectors, and the taxiways were equipped with amber reflectors.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, he was unable to distinguish the difference between the colored reflectors while in flight. He aligned the aircraft with amber parallel taxiway reflectors on the left and white runway reflectors on the right. The aircraft touched down on a perpendicular taxiway just past amber reflectors, which the pilot interpreted as runway end markings.
Sequence of Events
After touching down on the perpendicular taxiway, the aircraft rolled out across that taxiway and nosed over in the rough dirt area located between the runway and the parallel taxiway. No further details about the extent of damage or pilot condition were provided.
Investigation
No probable cause was assigned by the source. The incident highlights the challenges of distinguishing reflector colors during landing at an unlighted airport.