What happened
The aircraft sustained damage after its left wingtip contacted a pole during ground operations. The incident occurred while the pilot was maneuvering the airplane for takeoff. According to the pilot's account, visibility was significantly compromised by the position of the sun. He was taxiing westbound directly into the late afternoon sunlight, which created intense glare.
While navigating the airfield, the pilot observed an aircraft parked on his right side. However, he failed to notice a pole located on his left. Contributing to this oversight was the condition of the taxiway infrastructure. The centerline markings were described as badly faded, making it difficult to maintain proper lateral positioning relative to obstacles.
The investigation
The primary factors identified in the event were environmental and infrastructural. The setting sun provided a direct line of sight that impaired the pilot's forward vision. Simultaneously, the poor condition of the taxiway centerline lines removed a critical visual reference for ground navigation.