Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Recip Eng
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 131; Flight Crew Total 6600; Flight Crew Type 1700
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure
On approach to DXR in night conditions; I was about 1 nautical mile from the airport; on a straight-in approach to Runway 26; behind another aircraft. I was concentrating on slowing down behind the slower-moving airplane ahead of me; and was not familiar with this approach; at night. I suddenly realized that there was a pole with a red light mounted atop it; ahead of my left wing. I swerved to the right to be sure that I would avoid striking the pole; when I realized that I could see the tops of treetops in my landing lights. I increased power and climbed to a safe altitude; then continued the approach.I feel that there should be a lighted visual approach slope indicator or precision approach path indicator for Runway 26; to help avoid this same situation; in the future. The rising terrain to the east of DXR; which is in a valley; necessitates this improvement.
A pilot reported that on approach there appeared a pole with a red light mounted atop it; ahead of the left wing.