Air carrier flight crew reports damage to left wing tip after contact with chain link fence during taxi in on dark ramp at CSG.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reports damage to left wing tip after contact with chain link fence during taxi in on dark ramp at CSG.
Narrative
After landing from a visual approach on Runway 24 (First Officer flying) I took the controls to taxi the aircraft to the gate. I exited runway at Delta then Alpha taxiways. As I turned; I saw the Marshaller signaling me to the gate and directed my attention to her. As I lined up with her; I turned off the nose light; so as not to blind her and taxied in. I noticed something off to my left side as there was no wing walker and realized that the left wing of the aircraft had brushed up against a chain link fence that I never saw. I immediately stopped the aircraft and we deplaned the passengers.The ramp area is extremely dark and I saw no taxi lines. This fence and the surrounding area is not illuminated. It protrudes at an angle to the line I had chosen to taxi towards the marshaler. I pointed the nose of the aircraft towards the marshaler since they use a swing gate and I wanted to be perpendicular to it. I was still pretty far away so the 'wing walker' was not in the picture as I taxied in. I never saw the fence until I looked off my left wing and saw the tip in the fence. I stopped the airplane; set the brake; and shut it down. The station deplaned the passengers. Reflective material on the fence or better lighting for the entire ramp area. Prohibit taxi in this area at night.
Second reporter narrative
The ramp area is very dark. There was also no reflective tape on the fence that could have helped with our awareness.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.