Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 594; Flight Crew Type 165
Situational Awareness; Other / Unknown
Ground Excursion Ramp
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors
Was flying night flight time building with another pilot. Landed fine on the runway and got off Taxiway D to look for the self serve fuel pump. The ramp was very dark...saw a sign for self serve fuel pump; I thought fuel was there; taxied the airplane over; but did not find fuel pump; kept taxiing straight on the ramp; ramp was very poorly lighted. I stated out loud that I do not see anything; my Co-pilot suggested I keep going straight and unfortunately I did taxi straight into a ditch; pitch black; not enough airport lighting on this ramp; right across from FBO X.Airport poor lighting was [a] contributory factor. After talking to local airport personnel as well; he stated that yes he could see why it happened at that point since it's too dark on this ramp. No night visible markers on the ramp caution from the upcoming ditch! This unfortunate event could have been prevented if airport would have enough night lights and warning of this hot spot. To prevent future similar events corrective action of installing lighting around the ramp at night would prevent this.
GA pilot training at night experienced a ramp excursion at LEE airport.  Poor lighting was cited as a contributing factor.