What happened
On 6 June 2013, a Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP, registration G-BJCW, was preparing for a private flight from Humberside Airport to Southend. The aircraft was parked in the light aircraft parking area under good weather and daylight conditions. The pilot, carrying three passengers, requested detailed taxi instructions from Air Traffic Control (ATC) as it was his first time operating at the airfield.
During the taxi phase, a misunderstanding occurred regarding the intended route. While the controller intended to direct the aircraft via hard taxiways, the pilot followed a path that led onto a concrete roadway. This specific section of concrete served as the access road for the fire station and was not designated for aircraft movement. As the pilot taxied onto this road, the aircraft's left wing collided with a post-mounted signpost located near the fire station access.
The investigation
The investigation examined the communications between the pilot and the controller, as well as the physical markings of the airfield. It was established that the controller had initially intended to route the aircraft via a grass taxiway but later decided to use a different route via hard surfaces. During this transition, the controller queried whether the pilot could see a concrete strip to the left, and the pilot confirmed he could.
Investigators noted that the boundary between the parking area and the access road was marked by several low-level signboards and triangular 'bad ground' markings. These signs were designed to warn pilots against joining the hard surface in that specific area. However, the pilot proceeded onto the roadway despite these indicators, as he was operating under the impression that he was following the approved clearance.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot taxiing the aircraft onto an unauthorized access road.
- A discrepancy existed between the route the controller intended the aircraft to take and the route understood by the pilot.
- The aircraft's left wing struck a signpost mounted on a post.
- The area in question was marked with signage and ground markings intended to warn against aircraft movement, but these were not sufficient to prevent the error in this instance.