Aircraft and Operator
The aircraft involved was a DR400/180, registered HB-KOW, owned by Air-Club d'Yverdon-les-Bains and operated by the same club. The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1946, held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) via the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). His total flight time was 1,205 hours 55 minutes, with 7 hours 29 minutes in the last 90 days and 81 hours 59 minutes on type (2 hours 3 minutes in the last 90 days).
Accident Details
On 22 February 2017, at 19:20 local time (UTC+1), the aircraft was conducting a private flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) from Yverdon-les-Bains (LSGY) to Sion Airport (LSGS). While taxiing after landing, the pilot decided to exit runway 25 to the left via taxiway G to avoid a hard brake. He observed two rows of blue lights and chose to taxi on the right side of the right row, proceeding onto the "Link" parking area. The aircraft continued straight ahead, and the pilot did not realize he was driving on a vehicle road.
The air traffic controller alerted the pilot of the deviation just as the left wing struck two signs placed one behind the other. The aircraft continued taxiing to the north parking via taxiway F, where the pilot informed the ground supervisor.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage: the left leading edge was dented at the lights. The two signs were damaged. No injuries were reported among the pilot or any other persons.
Investigation
The Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE) conducted a summary investigation under Article 46 of the Ordinance on Transport Safety Investigations (OEIT). The purpose of the report was to derive lessons from the incident.