Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K N5765D accident near Page, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of the wrong taxi route and failure to follow prescribed taxi procedures.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was taxiing from the transient parking towards the runway for takeoff. It was dusk at the time and he was proceeding at a walking pace (2-3 miles per hour) to the taxiway when he encountered a large ditch at the end of the tarmac. The airplane rolled into the ditch bending the propeller and the empennage. The pilot commented that there were no signs, reflectors, warnings, or other indications that the ditch was there. The airport manager reported that the taxi route from the transient area is clearly marked with in-ground reflectors which lead to a lit taxiway and then to the runway. According to the manager, it appeared the pilot proceeded directly to the taxiway from the transient parking area where he was parked. He crossed a set of double solid lines that demarcate the taxiway edge, and continued into a helicopter operating/parking area. From there he crossed a marked service road, past a helicopter landing pad, and past a lit windsock before impacting the drainage ditch. The airport manager further reported that since the area is clearly marked and only intended for helicopter traffic there is no extra signage warning of the ditch.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR11CA257 for the full record.