On June 28, 2001, a Mooney M20C (registration N311X) was involved in an aviation accident near Tucson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane's collision with a perimeter roadway vehicular traffic sign due to the pilot's diverted attention and inadequate visual lookout while taxiing from landing. A contributing factor was the lack of sign conspicuity. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
After landing, a pilot intending to taxi to a fixed base operator became distracted by military jet traffic and mistakenly turned onto a perimeter road, colliding with the back side of a traffic sign.
Incident Details
According to the official investigation, the pilot had landed and intended to taxi to a fixed base operator via an established taxiway. While proceeding toward the intended taxiway, the pilot redirected his attention toward military jet airplane traffic that was in front of him but proceeded in another direction.
Sequence of Events
Thereafter, the pilot became confused regarding his position and turned onto a perimeter road, believing that it was the intended taxiway. As the pilot proceeded on the road, he collided with the back side of an automotive traffic sign.
Conclusion
The incident involved a taxiing aircraft colliding with a stationary object on a road that was mistaken for a taxiway. No further details about the aircraft, occupants, or injuries were provided in the source.