A PA28 pilot reported a distracting flashing sign on the approach to runway 13 at lee airport.

Attributes
ACN	774445
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lee.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lee.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 7 flight time total : 9200 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	774445
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport
Primary Problem	Airport
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Flashing; moving; scrolling; pulsating led sign on final approach to runway 13 at leesburg airport creates a major distraction to aircraft on approach to the runway. The sign is located adjacent to taxiway a and can be seen on runways 13 and 31 and advertises 'best fuel prices' and changes approximately every 10 seconds with a new message; such as advertising an FBO on the field; encouraging the pilot to read these messages while on final approach. This is especially distracting at night. I am of the opinion that this sign creates a major safety issue; as pilots need to be focusing on the runway while on approach and landing; and not have flashing signs diverting their attention away from the runway. The best way to correct this problem would be removal of the sign; hopefully before an accident occurs as a result of it being there.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PILOT REPORTED A DISTRACTING FLASHING SIGN ON THE APCH TO RWY 13 AT LEE ARPT.

Narrative: FLASHING; MOVING; SCROLLING; PULSATING LED SIGN ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 13 AT LEESBURG AIRPORT CREATES A MAJOR DISTRACTION TO AIRCRAFT ON APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. THE SIGN IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO TAXIWAY A AND CAN BE SEEN ON RUNWAYS 13 AND 31 AND ADVERTISES 'BEST FUEL PRICES' AND CHANGES APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10 SECONDS WITH A NEW MESSAGE; SUCH AS ADVERTISING AN FBO ON THE FIELD; ENCOURAGING THE PILOT TO READ THESE MESSAGES WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THIS SIGN CREATES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE; AS PILOTS NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THE RUNWAY WHILE ON APPROACH AND LANDING; AND NOT HAVE FLASHING SIGNS DIVERTING THEIR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY. THE BEST WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE REMOVAL OF THE SIGN; HOPEFULLY BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF IT BEING THERE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.