ERA13LA311

The pilot reported that, after contacting ground control and receiving a taxi clearance, he taxied to the end of the exit ramp and then began to taxi the airplane to the departure runway by attempting to follow the airport signs. He turned right and subsequently realized that the airplane was on an airport access road instead of a taxiway. The airplane struck a fence to the right of the access road, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Photographs provided by the airport showed no "No Entry Signs" in the vicinity of the airport access road. Although the airport operated under a Part 139 certificate, it did not have signage along the access road indicating that entry was prohibited for aircraft recommended in federal guidance for Part 139 airports. The lack of proper signage resulted in the pilot taxiing the airplane down the access road instead of a taxiway.

On June 19, 2013, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N61947, impacted an airport fence while taxiing for takeoff at Burlington International Airport (BTV), Burlington, Vermont. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Altitude Addiction LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he contacted ground control and received a taxi clearance and began to taxi the airplane to the departure runway. He attempted to follow the airport signs but the pilot realized that the airplane was on an airport access road instead of a taxiway. The airplane struck a fence located to the right of the access road with the right wing and pivoted to the right, colliding nose first with the fence. This resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and nose of the airplane. Photographs provided by the airport indicated that there were no "No Entry Signs" in the vicinity of the airport access road. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent third class medical certificate was issued on September 12, 2012. The pilot reported 149 hours of total flight time, of which, 35 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. According to FAA Airport Certification requirements, under part 139.311, "Markings, signs, and lighting," it states that "each certificate holder must provide and maintain sign systems for air carrier operations on the airport that are authorized by the Administrator and consist of …signs identifying taxiing routes on the movement area." According to Advisory Circular 150/5340-18F, "Standards for Airport Sign Systems," it stated that a no entry sign "indicates that entry into a particular area is prohibited to aircraft and is installed on the left side as seen by the pilot approaching the prohibited area. In some pavement configurations, it may be necessary to install the sign on both the left and right sides. The sign should be located adjacent to the pavement where entry is prohibited rather than prior to the intersection." An interview with the airport manager revealed that, following the accident, airport personnel installed a "No Entry Sign" near of the airport access road where the accident occurred.