Narrative:

From poc to las, very smooth IFR flight. On landing, I discovered the landing light was not working -- even though it was working before preflight, etc. I taxied off from runway 19L and told tower I would like instructions to an FBO. It was very dark, and it was a bit confusing (the taxi instructions). I had to do 2 180 degree turns as I had gone wrong way. On the third time I contacted tower, I told him 'I'm lost and I need help.' he said 'do a 180 degree turn from your present position and carry straight on.' I confirmed with the other 2 pilots which were on board and they didn't doubt the instructions from the tower. I followed his instructions and went down a ditch, which caused propeller and horizontal stabilizer damage. I personally accept that it was my fault as I was PIC, and I should have notified the tower that my landing light was no longer operating. However, I don't think the tower knew my exact position on the airport and he shouldn't have given me those instructions. He also sounded annoyed as I was having problems finding the FBO. He knew I was confused he could have also advised me about the follow me car. The only thing I learned from this incident is to report any malfunction immediately, as the taxiway lighting was very confusing at that airport, and not to trust the tower 100%.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL RATED PLT FLYING A PA28 AT LAS BECAME DISORIENTED ON THE GND AND TAXIED THE ACFT OFF THE TXWY.

Narrative: FROM POC TO LAS, VERY SMOOTH IFR FLT. ON LNDG, I DISCOVERED THE LNDG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING -- EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WORKING BEFORE PREFLT, ETC. I TAXIED OFF FROM RWY 19L AND TOLD TWR I WOULD LIKE INSTRUCTIONS TO AN FBO. IT WAS VERY DARK, AND IT WAS A BIT CONFUSING (THE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS). I HAD TO DO 2 180 DEG TURNS AS I HAD GONE WRONG WAY. ON THE THIRD TIME I CONTACTED TWR, I TOLD HIM 'I'M LOST AND I NEED HELP.' HE SAID 'DO A 180 DEG TURN FROM YOUR PRESENT POS AND CARRY STRAIGHT ON.' I CONFIRMED WITH THE OTHER 2 PLTS WHICH WERE ON BOARD AND THEY DIDN'T DOUBT THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TWR. I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND WENT DOWN A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED PROP AND HORIZ STABILIZER DAMAGE. I PERSONALLY ACCEPT THAT IT WAS MY FAULT AS I WAS PIC, AND I SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED THE TWR THAT MY LNDG LIGHT WAS NO LONGER OPERATING. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THE TWR KNEW MY EXACT POS ON THE ARPT AND HE SHOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN ME THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. HE ALSO SOUNDED ANNOYED AS I WAS HAVING PROBS FINDING THE FBO. HE KNEW I WAS CONFUSED HE COULD HAVE ALSO ADVISED ME ABOUT THE FOLLOW ME CAR. THE ONLY THING I LEARNED FROM THIS INCIDENT IS TO RPT ANY MALFUNCTION IMMEDIATELY, AS THE TXWY LIGHTING WAS VERY CONFUSING AT THAT ARPT, AND NOT TO TRUST THE TWR 100%.

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.