What happened
On 9 April 1999, a Piper PA-38-112, registration G-BNXV, completed a private flight at Teesside Airport. Following the landing on Runway 23, the pilot taxied the aircraft via Taxiway Bravo to the parking area. During a subsequent pre-flight inspection for a different flight, a pilot identified damage to the aircraft's left wingtip.
The investigation
An investigation into the damage revealed that the combined navigation and strobe light fitting had become detached from G-BNXV. The component was located near a fence positioned alongside Taxiway Bravo. At the time of the incident, the airport was undergoing surface repair work, which included painting a new centreline and blacking out the old one.
To manage the works, the Airport Authority had issued a NOTAM restricting Taxiway Bravo to aircraft with a wingspan of less than 23 metres. The wingspan of the Piper PA-38-112 was 10.36 metres, well within the permitted limit. The pilot of the aircraft was unaware that any incident had occurred until notified by the flying club later that day, noting that they had followed the visible centreline after vacating the runway.