What happened
The aircraft was being maneuvered on the ground at an airport facility when the pilot attempted to navigate from the active runway area toward a designated parking ramp. The specific taxiway intended for this transit lacked any lighting infrastructure, presenting a visual challenge during low-light conditions. While proceeding along the path, the pilot misidentified the boundaries of the paved surface. Specifically, the right side of the aircraft drifted off the usable pavement and made contact with the retaining wall of a large drainage ditch situated adjacent to the taxiway.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the structural failure originated from the lateral displacement of the aircraft. The pilot had believed the aircraft remained fully on the taxiway surface; however, physical evidence confirmed that the right landing gear was resting on and exerting weight against the concrete retaining wall of the drainage ditch rather than the flat pavement. This unsupported load caused the right landing gear assembly to collapse under the stress.
Findings
A critical factor in this incident was the pilot's choice of lighting configuration during ground operations. The pilot had elected to utilize the aircraft's landing lights for visibility while taxiing, rather than the dedicated taxi lights. Landing lights are designed to project a long-distance beam suitable for approach and departure phases, not the wide, low-angle illumination required for safe ground navigation. This mismatch in lighting geometry likely contributed to the pilot's inability to accurately judge the edge of the unlighted taxiway and the proximity of the drainage ditch retaining wall.
Safety message
Pilots operating at night or in conditions with reduced visibility must ensure that taxi lights are activated when navigating on the ground, particularly on unlighted taxiways. Relying on landing lights for ground maneuvering can provide insufficient illumination of the immediate pavement edges and obstacles, increasing the risk of runway incursions or ground collisions.