Large transport slid off ramp while taxiing.

Attributes
ACN	105924
Time
Date	198903
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8900 flight time type : 5700
ASRS Report	105924
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	105923
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Landed ILS 4L ind, braking action fair-poor. We were first aircraft to land in the previous 4 hours. Ramp was very slick as freezing rain had fallen previously and ramp to txwys were covered with snow. We had to make a 180 degree turn from taxiway B to ramp to position for parking at gate. At this point we were perpendicular to wind gusting to 32 KTS. Upon completion of the turn I felt a sideways motion and left main gear sunk into mud up to the axle. It is extremely important to note that taxiway lights are at least 5' into the grass and mud from the actual taxiway. This is a very congested ramp. My only visibility cues were the blue taxiway lights, as the ramp was covered with snow. A further 135 degree turn was necessary to park at gate. We were being extra careful due to the proximity to the terminal bldg and ramp conditions. Proper positioning of taxiway lights would have prevented this occurrence. At least 3 aircraft have left the concrete at this spot in the past 3 yrs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT SLID OFF RAMP WHILE TAXIING.

Narrative: LANDED ILS 4L IND, BRAKING ACTION FAIR-POOR. WE WERE FIRST ACFT TO LAND IN THE PREVIOUS 4 HRS. RAMP WAS VERY SLICK AS FREEZING RAIN HAD FALLEN PREVIOUSLY AND RAMP TO TXWYS WERE COVERED WITH SNOW. WE HAD TO MAKE A 180 DEG TURN FROM TXWY B TO RAMP TO POS FOR PARKING AT GATE. AT THIS POINT WE WERE PERPENDICULAR TO WIND GUSTING TO 32 KTS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE TURN I FELT A SIDEWAYS MOTION AND LEFT MAIN GEAR SUNK INTO MUD UP TO THE AXLE. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TXWY LIGHTS ARE AT LEAST 5' INTO THE GRASS AND MUD FROM THE ACTUAL TXWY. THIS IS A VERY CONGESTED RAMP. MY ONLY VIS CUES WERE THE BLUE TXWY LIGHTS, AS THE RAMP WAS COVERED WITH SNOW. A FURTHER 135 DEG TURN WAS NECESSARY TO PARK AT GATE. WE WERE BEING EXTRA CAREFUL DUE TO THE PROX TO THE TERMINAL BLDG AND RAMP CONDITIONS. PROPER POSITIONING OF TXWY LIGHTS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS OCCURRENCE. AT LEAST 3 ACFT HAVE LEFT THE CONCRETE AT THIS SPOT IN THE PAST 3 YRS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.