Accident Details
On September 16, 2017, at approximately 1430 mountain standard time, a Cessna 208B airplane, registration N786WW, struck a light pole while taxiing after landing at Sedona Airport (SEZ), Sedona, Arizona. The pilot and eight passengers were not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its left wing.
Flight and Operator Information
The airplane was registered to and operated by West Wind Aviation, Inc., under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Grand Canyon West Airport in Peach Springs, Arizona, at 1322.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, after an uneventful landing on runway 3, he taxied the airplane from taxiway A2 to taxiway A and awaited instructions from ground control. A Fly-in & Car Show event was occurring, occupying several ramp areas. Ground control directed the pilot to follow a truck on taxiway A6 to transient parking, which had been relocated to the east side of the ramp and was only accessible via taxiway A6 during the event.
During the taxi, the pilot observed several parked airplanes on the right side with wings overhanging the taxiway near the centerline. To maintain clearance on the right, he steered left of centerline. Ground personnel were clearing the right wing, but no one was positioned to clear the left wing. Once clear of the parked aircraft, the pilot advanced the throttle and subsequently struck a light pole with the left wing. The light pole was located approximately 65 feet from the centerline of taxiway A6.
Pilot Qualifications
Federal Aviation Administration records show the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multiengine land ratings. He reported approximately 915 hours of total flight experience, including about 102 hours in the Cessna 208B.