Incident Overview
Following an uneventful landing, the pilot commenced taxi on a closed taxiway that lacked barricades. During the taxi, the pilot observed a flickering landing gear indicator light. When the pilot diverted his attention to the indicator light, the airplane veered off the closed taxiway and entered a drainage ditch that was under construction adjacent to the taxiway.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage. Specifically, damage included the firewall, the right rear landing gear spar, and buckling of the right wing. The pilot was uninjured in the incident.
Relevant NOTAM Information
A notice to airmen (NOTAM) for the taxiway closure had been issued and was known to the pilot. The airport operations manager initially told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that no NOTAMs had been issued pertaining to the taxiway closure. Upon completion of the FAA's on-scene documentation, the airport manager asked whether a NOTAM had been issued, at which point the airport operations manager stated that there was a NOTAM for general construction.