Incident Description
A pilot was taxiing onto a parking ramp when his airplane collided with an airplane that was already parked. The pilot provided details of the circumstances leading to the collision.
Environmental Factors
The pilot reported that a hangar on the ramp's edge was equipped with 15 floodlights along its top edge. A dark area on the middle section of the hangar was also noted. According to the pilot, the combination of the flood lights, his airplane's taxilight, and falling snow created light reflection that made it difficult to see the parked airplane.
Investigation Findings
An FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) confirmed the pilot's statement regarding the floodlights. Additionally, the PMI confirmed that no taxiway or ramp markings were available in the area. The pilot stated that the dark color of the airplane his airplane struck blended in with the hangar's dark area.