PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 250
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Taxiway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Human Factors
The incident occurred just after landing on runway 1 at Rutland; VT (RUT). We were on the runway and heard on UNICOM that an aircraft was going to back taxi on runway 19. The pilot under instruction of our PA28 decided that we should clear the runway as soon [as] possible on what he observed to be a taxiway on the left side of the runway. After the turn the pilot and copilot noticed signage that indicated the taxiway was not a taxiway. By the time the pilot noticed the signage it was too late to turn around and we proceeded down the roadway to find an area where there was adequate room to make a 180 degree turn to return to the runway. In the process of finding room to turn around; the left wing tip hit an airport sign on the side the roadway. At this time the pilot and copilot decided to shut down the aircraft engine and request help from the airport management. Assistance was provided to turn the aircraft around and position the aircraft so that it could be taxied to the mechanic's shop via the runway where minor repairs were made to the port navigation lights. The airport sign damage was minor according to the airport management.RECOMMENDATIONS:The airport signage; designating the roadway as not a taxiway; is parallel to and facing the runway and difficult to see until after aircraft has made the turn. After this turn made the aircraft does not have room on the roadway to turn around back to runway. It is recommended that signage be placed on both sides of the roadway perpendicular to the runway.
The roadway looks too much like a taxiway until right up on it. When rolling out from landing it looks too inviting with its flared pavement at the runway edge and its width.
PA28 instructor pilot and student reported turning off Runway 1 at RUT and onto a poorly marked road thinking it was a taxiway.