Taxiway excursion for small aircraft taxiing at night at vny.

Attributes
ACN	163519
Time
Date	199011
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 17 flight time total : 112 flight time type : 12
ASRS Report	163519
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During preflight I observed the taxi light was inoperative, since I knew this drew a lot of amperes, I thought it would come on after the engine was started. Since the aircraft was facing the parking lights I still couldn't determine whether the taxi light was operating. I proceeded to taxi through the parking area towards the taxiway. Once I was on the taxiway and clear of the parking lights, it was apparent the taxi light wasn't working. I slowed the aircraft, and requested that my friend locate and activate the defroster since the windows were beginning to steam over. At this point the unlit taxiway made a jog. Since I was still traveling in a straight line, I deviated from the taxiway. When I realized I was off the taxiway I stopped. While stopping, it felt like a tire hit a chuckhole. Since I was wearing a head set, I heard nothing. I proceeded to the runup area. Upon exiting the aircraft, I noticed that the leading edge of the right wing had been struck. Most likely the 'chuckhole' was an object.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TXWY EXCURSION FOR SMA TAXIING AT NIGHT AT VNY.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT I OBSERVED THE TAXI LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, SINCE I KNEW THIS DREW A LOT OF AMPERES, I THOUGHT IT WOULD COME ON AFTER THE ENG WAS STARTED. SINCE THE ACFT WAS FACING THE PARKING LIGHTS I STILL COULDN'T DETERMINE WHETHER THE TAXI LIGHT WAS OPERATING. I PROCEEDED TO TAXI THROUGH THE PARKING AREA TOWARDS THE TXWY. ONCE I WAS ON THE TXWY AND CLR OF THE PARKING LIGHTS, IT WAS APPARENT THE TAXI LIGHT WASN'T WORKING. I SLOWED THE ACFT, AND REQUESTED THAT MY FRIEND LOCATE AND ACTIVATE THE DEFROSTER SINCE THE WINDOWS WERE BEGINNING TO STEAM OVER. AT THIS POINT THE UNLIT TXWY MADE A JOG. SINCE I WAS STILL TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, I DEVIATED FROM THE TXWY. WHEN I REALIZED I WAS OFF THE TXWY I STOPPED. WHILE STOPPING, IT FELT LIKE A TIRE HIT A CHUCKHOLE. SINCE I WAS WEARING A HEAD SET, I HEARD NOTHING. I PROCEEDED TO THE RUNUP AREA. UPON EXITING THE ACFT, I NOTICED THAT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE R WING HAD BEEN STRUCK. MOST LIKELY THE 'CHUCKHOLE' WAS AN OBJECT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.