Incident Overview
On October 12, 2015, at approximately 1340 central standard time, a Beechcraft A36, registration N55674, sustained substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field (DAL), Dallas, Texas. The aircraft was operated by Frog Air LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been filed. The intended destination was Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA), Amarillo, Texas.
Taxiway Deviation
Air traffic control cleared the pilot to taxi to runway 31R via Taxiway A. While leaving the ramp area and transitioning to the taxiway environment, the pilot inadvertently joined a vehicle service road instead of Taxiway A. As he taxied on the service road, the airplane approached a security fence on the left side of the road.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that he looked down to review the airport diagram on his iPad. While he was examining the diagram and still taxiing, the left wing impacted a fence post that was part of a vehicle gate. The impact caused the nose of the aircraft to turn to the left, and the front of the aircraft subsequently struck the vehicle gate. This resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.
Weather Conditions
At 1353, the surface weather at Dallas Love Field was reported as follows: wind variable at 4 knots; visibility 10 miles; skies clear; temperature 33 degrees Celsius; dew point 17 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.78 inches of mercury.