Event ANC97LA007

Factual narrative

On November 25, 1996, about 1415 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150, N63414, collided with an airport warning sign while taxiing from landing at Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to Aero Tech Air Services Inc., Anchorage, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Kenai Municipal airport, Kenai, Alaska, at 1320. On November 25, 1996, at 1455, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he was practicing for his commercial pilot certificate and intended to land at Merrill Field. Low fog conditions required the flight to divert to Lake Hood. The pilot landed on runway 31 and was taxiing to parking when the right wing struck an airport warning sign. The pilot indicated he was unfamiliar with the Lake Hood Strip. Damage to the right wing spar and outboard rib was confirmed on December 3, 1996, by the NTSB IIC. The pilot, the sole occupant, landed at an alternate airport from his intended destination. The flight was the conclusion of a cross-country instructional flight, and the pilot was unfamiliar with the field. While taxiing to parking, the right wing struck an airport warning sign. The airplane received damage to the right wing spar and outboard rib. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12