LANSING, IL, USA
N6736L
BEECH A36
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAXI FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE HANGAR/RAMP AREA AFTER LANDING, THE PLT TAXIED ACROSS A GRASSY AREA TO GET TO THE MARKED TEMPORARY GRASS TAXIWAY. AS HE TAXIED THROUGH THE GRASSY AREA, THE ACFT'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DROPPED INTO AN UNMARKED HOLE WHICH THE PLT ESTIMATED TO BE 23' DEEP. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO TAXI THE ACFT OUT OF THE HOLE BY USING POWER; HOWEVER SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE RESULTED TO THE ACFT. THE ARPT WAS IN THE MIDST OF ONGOING CONSTRUCTION, AND THE HOLE WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CAUSED BY THE RELOCATION OF THE VASI LIGHT INSTALLATION DUE TO RUNWAY EXPANSION. THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT STATED THAT THE HOLES HAD BEEN 'RESTORED' AFTER THE VASI STRUCTURES WERE REMOVED; THEY WERE 'RESTORED' AGAIN THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT DESCRIBED THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AS 'DARK NIGHT' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ELECTING TO TAXI ACROSS AN UNMARKED AREA IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AT AN AIRPORT WITH KNOWN CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS AND THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE INITIAL REPAIRS WERE SUFFICIENT TO CORRECT THE HOLES MADE DURING CONSTRUCTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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