Left Wing Strikes Light Pole During Taxi to Fueling Pit (N734RE)

Incident Details

The pilot landed the aircraft and began taxiing to the fueling pit. Noticing a queue of other airplanes waiting for fuel, the pilot chose to use a taxiway that was not part of his normal routine. This taxiway brought the aircraft to the far end of the paved ramp area. At that location, a parked airplane obstructed the path, requiring the pilot to maneuver around it. During this evasive maneuver, the left wing of the aircraft struck a light pole positioned at the edge of the ramp. The pilot later recounted that the collision occurred as he was turning to pass the parked airplane. The aircraft continued taxiing after the impact and reached the fueling pit without further incident.

Mechanical Status

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft. The engines, flight controls, and other systems functioned normally throughout the flight and taxi. The pilot did not identify any pre-existing condition that could have contributed to the taxi path deviation or the collision. The aircraft was operating as expected, and the pilot had full control before and after the strike.