Incident Overview
According to a written statement submitted by the pilot, while taxiing to the ramp, he observed the lineman motioning him towards a parking area. The pilot taxied straight towards the lineman, departed the taxiway, and struck an airport sign. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Damage Details
The damage to the airplane was first reported to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board after the airplane was sold. The cowling was torn, the skin of the fuselage was buckled, and the fuselage skin was wrinkled two to three inches aft of the firewall.
Reporting Timeline
The incident initially went unreported until after the sale of the aircraft, at which point the new owner or seller notified the authorities. No further information regarding the location, time, or aircraft specifics was provided in the source.