NTSB Factual Report

On August 31, 2004, about 1650 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-14 airplane, N4241H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a runway taxiway sign while taxiing for takeoff from the Merle "Mudhole" Smith Airport, Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rule (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot with an intended destination of McCarthy, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 1, 2004, the pilot reported that he was preparing to taxi for takeoff. Another airplane taxied behind his, and waited for takeoff. The pilot said he was not ready for takeoff, and motioned to the second airplane to move ahead. When it did not move, the pilot decided to move his airplane out of the way, and he taxied outside of the taxiway lights and stopped. The pilot said that the sun was in his eyes, and after the second airplane departed, he began to taxi his airplane forward. He did not see a taxiway sign for taxiway "C" that was under the nose of his airplane. The sign was about 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The right main landing gear struck the sign, and the landing gear strut was displaced aft about 18 inches. The right wing lift struts were bent when they struck the top of the taxiway sign.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a runway marker sign. A factor contributing to the accident was sunglare in the pilot's eyes.