What happened
On September 22, 2022, a privately owned Cessna 172P, registration JA3969, was taxiing toward a parking spot at Yao Airport in Osaka Prefecture. The flight, which originated from Kumamoto Airport, carried two occupants: a captain acting in a supervisory capacity and a fellow pilot operating the controls.
After landing on Runway 09, the pilot operating the aircraft began taxiing toward Spot H4. During the maneuver, the pilot became preoccupied with requesting a time extension for the parking spot from the air traffic controller. While navigating the apron, the pilot missed the designated lead-in lines for the intended spot. Rather than stopping the aircraft to verify the route or consult with controllers, the pilot turned right at the entrance to the Lead-in Lines for Spot F, mistakenly believing a path was available through a nearby area.
This maneuver led the aircraft onto a GSE Service Road, a route reserved exclusively for ground support vehicles. While traversing this road, the left wing leading edge of the Cessna 172P struck an equipment storage box mounted on a pole used for apron floodlighting. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft's wing, including a large dent and upward bending of the outer skin. There were no injuries to the two persons on board.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight path, the crew's communication, and the airport's surface markings. The investigation focused on why the aircraft deviated from the taxiway and entered a restricted service road. Investigators reviewed the crew's lack of coordination, noting that the captain had deferred navigation decisions to the fellow pilot. The investigation also looked at the visual cues present on the ground, specifically the distinction between the yellow guide lines for aircraft and the white lines marking the vehicle service road.