Narrative:

After landing at lga apt and taxiing off the runway with air carrier X flight abcd, we noticed that all the runway and taxiway identify lights were OTS. When I asked ATC why the lights were out, ATC replied 'they're on vacation.' then on the way out 30 mins later with flight efgh, the lights were still out, we had to use our flashlight from the flight deck to light up the taxiway signs and find our location to comply with the hold short instructions. On that night, numerous aircraft crossed to the active runway while taxiing out without permission. An air carrier Y heavy jet crossed in front of a landing aircraft. He told ATC they can't see where they are, and ATC replied 'just hold short of the wind sock now.' ATC never issued any advisories about the light condition on the field and it was never noted on the ATIS.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SAAB 340 CREW ARRIVED AT LGA ARPT AND FOUND ALL FIELD LIGHTING OTS.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG AT LGA APT AND TAXIING OFF THE RWY WITH ACR X FLT ABCD, WE NOTICED THAT ALL THE RWY AND TXWY IDENT LIGHTS WERE OTS. WHEN I ASKED ATC WHY THE LIGHTS WERE OUT, ATC REPLIED 'THEY'RE ON VACATION.' THEN ON THE WAY OUT 30 MINS LATER WITH FLT EFGH, THE LIGHTS WERE STILL OUT, WE HAD TO USE OUR FLASHLIGHT FROM THE FLT DECK TO LIGHT UP THE TXWY SIGNS AND FIND OUR LOCATION TO COMPLY WITH THE HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTIONS. ON THAT NIGHT, NUMEROUS ACFT CROSSED TO THE ACTIVE RWY WHILE TAXIING OUT WITHOUT PERMISSION. AN ACR Y HVY JET CROSSED IN FRONT OF A LNDG ACFT. HE TOLD ATC THEY CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY ARE, AND ATC REPLIED 'JUST HOLD SHORT OF THE WIND SOCK NOW.' ATC NEVER ISSUED ANY ADVISORIES ABOUT THE LIGHT CONDITION ON THE FIELD AND IT WAS NEVER NOTED ON THE ATIS.

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.