On April 26, 2005, about 1725 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N2981D, sustained substantial damage while landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Seldovia Airport, Seldovia, Alaska, about 1530. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 29, the pilot reported that after landing on runway 24, while exiting the active runway, he inadvertently taxied over a runway/taxiway identification sign that was located adjacent to the taxiway. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.