NAKNEK, AK, USA
N9113L
Champion 7GCBC
The pilot landed at the Naknek airport after a local flight. He was following another airplane to the parking ramp. He waited and allowed the other airplane to clear the runway first. The pilot stated he looked for vehicles before crossing the road that transects the parking ramp access taxiways. The road parallels the runway just outside of the runway lights. As the pilot started to taxi, an automobile passed in front of his airplane. He applied the brakes and nosed down. The vehicle did not stop and the operator was located later. The operator was an unlicensed youth. The road is within the runway safety area as defined in the regulations. There were no warning signs posted on the road or the taxiway warning of a hazard or obstruction.
On June 5, 1996, at 2200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Champion, model 7GCBC, N9113L, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed down during taxi at the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was returning to Naknek from a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane received minor damage to the propeller and cowling. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During an interview with the pilot on June 7, 1996, he stated that he landed on the runway at Naknek and was taxiing to parking. According to the pilot, a road crosses the parking ramp, parallel to the runway, immediately outside of the runway lights. To clear the runway and enter the parking ramp, the road must be crossed. After landing, the pilot allowed another airplane to enter the parking ramp first. He then looked for automobiles on the road and started to cross the road into the parking ramp. As he was crossing the road, an automobile driven by an unlicensed youth, passed across the front of the airplane. The pilot applied maximum braking to avoid striking the vehicle. The airplane nosed down. The Naknek Airport is a public airport, owned and operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation. According to the information contained in the airport master record, the airport annual usage levels include 12,000 air taxi operations, 7,000 general aviation operations, and 10,000 general aviation itinerant operations, totaling approximately 29,000 operations. The airport is uncontrolled and located in Class G airspace. The airport is associated with the Bristol Bay red salmon fishery. Consequently, most of the airport operations occur during the summer months of May through September. Examination of the road, runway, and parking ramp by the pilot and the State of Alaska's Department of Transportation Airport Manager showed that there were no warning signs posted on the road or aircraft movement area alerting anyone to a possible conflict. A statement submitted by Mr. Fred J. Kraun of Naknek, indicated that signs were posted along the road at one time warning of aircraft crossing the road. However, the signs are no longer there and he does not recall when they were removed. Mr. Kraun stated, he has been operating from the Naknek airport since it was built in 1949. During a telephone conversation with Mr. Mike Swain, State of Alaska, Department of Transportation, Airport Manager, he said that he has been assigned to the Naknek Airport for 5 years and does not recall observing any warning signs. He stated that he had heard from the local population that warning signs used to be posted. The Airport Master record diagram for Naknek airport depicts a road adjacent to the west side of runway 32. This road transects both taxiways which access the parking ramp from the runway. According to the Airport Manager, the road is owned by the Naknek Borough and is open to the public. The text description of the airport does not indicate the location of the road or show that vehicular traffic may cross the taxiways. The description, however, does state that there is uncontrolled vehicular traffic on the runway. According to the Naknek Airport Manager, the road was described as being close enough to the runway so that when an airplane crossed the road, part of the airplane would still be on the runway. The State of Alaska, Department of Transportation, indicates that the centerline of the road is 60 feet west of the centerline of the runway.
The inadequate visual lookout of the vehicle driver, and the inadequate visual lookout of the pilot. A factor was the State of Alaska's failure to provide taxiway hazard warning signs which would alert vehicles of the active aerodrome.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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