Van Collision with Aircraft During Taxiing (N280MA)

Incident Overview During taxiing, the pilot observed a van moving in reverse from left to right. The pilot attempted to signal the driver using the landing lights, but the van passed the aircraft's nose. The pilot stopped the aircraft, and the van continued its path, striking the right rear fuselage. ## Investigation Findings The investigation determined that the driver had exited the running van to work on another aircraft without setting the parking brake. Additionally, the van's transmission had been replaced on the day of the accident, and the gear selection indicator was missing from the steering column.