PA31T taxiing in heavy snow with one quarter mi visibility taxies off runway.

Attributes
ACN	353848
Time
Date	199611
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rut
State Reference	VT
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	353848
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After receiving an IFR clearance and a 20 min void time, we were deiced and began taxi for runway 1. At the time of engine start, visibility was 2 mi, light snow. As we begin taxiing, dropped to 1/4 mi, heavy snow. Did not have enough visual even to taxi to runway nor turn around. Aircraft exited the taxiway (see diagram). No injuries -- no damage. Aircraft stopped 2 ft from edge of runway and we were then pulled out by vehicle. Flight canceled. A request to the airport manager was made to add additional lighting in the dark areas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31T TAXIING IN HVY SNOW WITH ONE QUARTER MI VISIBILITY TAXIES OFF RWY.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING AN IFR CLRNC AND A 20 MIN VOID TIME, WE WERE DEICED AND BEGAN TAXI FOR RWY 1. AT THE TIME OF ENG START, VISIBILITY WAS 2 MI, LIGHT SNOW. AS WE BEGIN TAXIING, DROPPED TO 1/4 MI, HVY SNOW. DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH VISUAL EVEN TO TAXI TO RWY NOR TURN AROUND. ACFT EXITED THE TXWY (SEE DIAGRAM). NO INJURIES -- NO DAMAGE. ACFT STOPPED 2 FT FROM EDGE OF RWY AND WE WERE THEN PULLED OUT BY VEHICLE. FLT CANCELED. A REQUEST TO THE ARPT MGR WAS MADE TO ADD ADDITIONAL LIGHTING IN THE DARK AREAS.

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.