CESSNA 182

Full Narrative

On June 20, 2009, about 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 182R, N60HP, struck a hangar with the left wingtip while taxiing after landing at the Tenkiller Lake Airpark (44M), Cookson, Oklahoma. The airplane was being operated by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Bethany, Oklahoma, as a visual flight rules public use flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight had originated at the Wiley Post Airport (PWA), Bethany, Oklahoma, at 0930.

The pilot reported that after back taxiing on the grass airstrip, he taxied onto an asphalt road between the airstrip and the hangar area on the northeast side of the airport. As he taxied on the road, he felt a "jolt." After stopping and exiting the airplane, he noted that the left wing had contacted the T-hangar.

The pilot reported that he was informed by the airport manager that other aircraft had contacted the hangar in the same location.

A member of the airport commission stated that there are no paved taxiways at the airport and the surface the pilot was taxiing on is a road, which should not be used as a taxiway. In addition, the building that the airplane contacted is painted orange.