What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was being maneuvered on the ground at an airport ramp area. The pilot was attempting to guide the airplane into a designated parking space. As he looked toward his right side to check the position of the left wing relative to obstacles, the wing made contact with a sign pole.
A passenger seated in the aircraft noticed the proximity of the sign and attempted to warn the pilot. In response, the pilot applied the brakes in an effort to halt the forward motion of the airplane. However, despite this immediate reaction, the vehicle was unable to stop before the left wing struck the pole.
The investigation
Following the ground contact, an FAA inspector conducted a physical examination of the aircraft to assess the extent of the damage. The inspection confirmed that the left wing sustained structural damage as a result of the impact with the sign pole.