Accident
On June 26, 2018, at approximately 0900 central daylight time, an Aeronca 65 airplane, registration N22173, sustained substantial damage during taxi operations at a private airport (LA54) located about one mile northeast of Gilliam, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to Spirit of Haughton, LLC and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules flight. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area flight.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, he was practicing stop-and-go landings at the time of the accident. After the second landing on runway 26, he taxied the airplane back to the east end to prepare for a third flight. While making a wide right turn, he was looking in the direction of the turn and failed to see an estimated 4½-foot-tall utility pole located about 60 feet north of what would be considered the centerline of the runway area. The left wing lift strut contacted the pole and separated from the fuselage at the lower attach point, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no markings or warnings placed nearby, which allowed the dark-colored pole to blend into the background.
Aftermath
Following the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge contacted the airport owner, who agreed to paint the pole to make it more visible and prevent a recurrence.