C172 EXITED RWY AT KENNETH COPELAND ARPT (4T2) ONTO WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A GRAVEL TAXIWAY. PLT REALIZED HE WAS ACTUALLY ON A POORLY MAINTAINED ACCESS ROAD AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK UNEVEN SURFACE.
Synopsis
C172 EXITED RWY AT KENNETH COPELAND ARPT (4T2) ONTO WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A GRAVEL TAXIWAY. PLT REALIZED HE WAS ACTUALLY ON A POORLY MAINTAINED ACCESS ROAD AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK UNEVEN SURFACE.
Narrative
I WAS FLYING A C172RG. THE WX WAS: SKY CLR; VISIBILITY 12 MI; AND SUNNY. I PERFORMED A NORMAL LNDG ON RWY 17 AT COPELAND ARPT (4T2). I EXITED THE RWY TO THE R; AND TAXIED ONTO A GRAVEL TXWY ON THE W SIDE OF THE RWY. I CONTINUED N ON THE TXWY. WHEN THE TXWY TURNS L AT THE INTXN OF RWY 12-30; THE SURFACE HAD SOME POTHOLES. I MOVED R TO AVOID THE POTHOLES; AND THE R MAIN LNDG GEAR STARTED TO SLIDE INTO A GULLEY. I TRIED TO CORRECT WITH L RUDDER/BRAKES; AND SOME THROTTLE; BUT THE ACFT KEPT GOING TO THE R. THE R MAIN WHEEL AND NOSEWHEEL SLIPPED INTO A SMALL DEPRESSION. THE PROP STRUCK THE UNEVEN DIRT; AND I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE ENG OFF. BOTH PROP BLADES WERE BENT AND DAMAGED; BUT THE REST OF THE AIRFRAME WAS UNDAMAGED. I WALKED TO THE HANGAR; AND A MECH ON DUTY TOWED THE ACFT TO THE RAMP FOR TIE DOWN. I THEN CALLED THE FLT SCHOOL ON MY CELL PHONE TO RPT THE INCIDENT. I LATER LEARNED THE GRAVEL TXWY WAS NOT IN USE; EVEN THOUGH IT CONNECTS TO RWY 17. BEFORE THE FLT; I CHKED WITH WEBSITE ONLINE; AND THE SITE DID NOT HAVE A TXWY DIAGRAM. YOU CAN SEE THE RWY 17 ON SATELLITE IMAGE USING THESE COORDINATES: 32 58 38 40 N; 97 29 30 37 W. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT HE SELECTED THE VFR ARPT AT RANDOM; BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN AIRPORT DIAGRAM. A WEBSITE WAS UTILIZED TO OBTAIN A SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE ARPT PRIOR TO FLT. WITH THIS IMAGE IN MIND; AFTER LNDG; HE EXITED ONTO WHAT MAY HAVE ONCE BEEN A PARALLEL TAXIWAY; BUT THE SURFACE CONDITION BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS HE PROCEEDED. HE NOW REALIZED THAT HE WAS ON A POORLY MAINTAINED ACCESS ROAD; BUT HE HAD GONE TOO FAR TO TURN BACK. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SLIPPED INTO A RUT; AND A PROP STRIKE RESULTED.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.