NTSB Factual Report

On August 20, 2004, at 1814 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182G, N2059R, inadvertently landed on an airport road at the Big Bear City Airport, Big Bear City, California. The airplane came to rest inverted after the left wing collided with a bush. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed from the Lone Pine Airport, Lone Pine, California, and was destined for Big Bear. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, Big Bear UNICOM advised him that the runway was under construction. They instructed him to use the taxiway for landing. As the airplane touched down, the pilot realized something was wrong and that he had inadvertently landed on a road. He applied full power to go around, and the left wing collided with a bush. The airplane came to rest inverted.

The pilot was aware of the runway closure prior to his departure, but he had not landed there since the construction began. The taxiway was marked with a black line, not a yellow line to which the pilot was accustomed. An airport road runs parallel to the taxiway at Big Bear, and the pilot inadvertently landed on it. Due to the lack of yellow markings on the taxiway, the pilot felt it was confusing. The airport road was marked with faded, white strips down its center.

The pilot stated that he was looking into a setting sun, and his forward visibility was almost zero.

A notice to airman (NOTAM) for the runway closure stated the following:

RAL 07/040 L35 8/26 CLSD/S PARL TWY TEMPO 8/26 3780X75 AVBL DAY/

NO TGL/26 TODA 3780 LDA 2500/8 TODA 3780 LDA 3480

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's mistaken selection of an airport road as the landing runway. Factors in the accident were the nonstandard markings on the temporary landing surface and the glare from the setting sun.