Pilot fired after hitting light pole while taxiing.

Attributes
ACN	445238
Time
Date	199908
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cle.tower
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Commander 500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 233 flight time total : 1358 flight time type : 361
ASRS Report	445238
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I had a normal landing. There was a jet where I usually park. I was keeping my eyes at that moment on the jet because the commander has high wings. I taxied beside the jet, and on my way to parking, there were 4 wood wheel chocks. I looked at the light pole on the right and saw enough space between my wingtip and the light pole. The problem arose when I tried to avoid the wheel chocks. When I tried to taxi around them, I hit my right wingtip on the pole. I turned the engines off and went to see the damage. I wasn't taxiing fast but the leading edge caved 3 inches in, bending top and bottom wingtip. The green position light plastic fell straight down. My mistake. What really caused the problem was thinking I had enough space, and fixating at the wheel chocks. I called my supervisor and informed him of the situation. That same day I lost my job. I hope this statement serves of caution for pilots in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FIRED AFTER HITTING LIGHT POLE WHILE TAXIING.

Narrative: I HAD A NORMAL LNDG. THERE WAS A JET WHERE I USUALLY PARK. I WAS KEEPING MY EYES AT THAT MOMENT ON THE JET BECAUSE THE COMMANDER HAS HIGH WINGS. I TAXIED BESIDE THE JET, AND ON MY WAY TO PARKING, THERE WERE 4 WOOD WHEEL CHOCKS. I LOOKED AT THE LIGHT POLE ON THE R AND SAW ENOUGH SPACE BTWN MY WINGTIP AND THE LIGHT POLE. THE PROB AROSE WHEN I TRIED TO AVOID THE WHEEL CHOCKS. WHEN I TRIED TO TAXI AROUND THEM, I HIT MY R WINGTIP ON THE POLE. I TURNED THE ENGS OFF AND WENT TO SEE THE DAMAGE. I WASN'T TAXIING FAST BUT THE LEADING EDGE CAVED 3 INCHES IN, BENDING TOP AND BOTTOM WINGTIP. THE GREEN POS LIGHT PLASTIC FELL STRAIGHT DOWN. MY MISTAKE. WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE PROB WAS THINKING I HAD ENOUGH SPACE, AND FIXATING AT THE WHEEL CHOCKS. I CALLED MY SUPVR AND INFORMED HIM OF THE SIT. THAT SAME DAY I LOST MY JOB. I HOPE THIS STATEMENT SERVES OF CAUTION FOR PLTS IN THE FUTURE.

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.