Incident Overview
According to the pilot, as he taxied from the runway to the parking area, he initiated a left turn to enter his designated parking space. The pilot reported that he had parked at this location many times before and that his primary concern at that moment was to avoid running over the rope tie-downs on the parking space.
Sequence of Events
During the left turn, although the main landing gear remained on the asphalt, the right wing extended beyond the asphalt surface into the adjacent grass area. In the grass, the right wing collided with a light pole. The pilot noted that the light pole had been erected approximately 45 days prior to the incident and was positioned in the grass, about 5 feet away from the edge of the asphalt.
Damage Assessment
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar as a result of the impact.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.