Incident Details
An unoccupied van rolled backward and impacted the left side of an airplane, causing damage. According to an airport police report, the driver of the van stated that he had parked the vehicle about twenty yards in front of the aircraft for approximately two minutes before the incident. The driver reported that he exited the van to check oil fittings and does not know how the vehicle struck the aircraft.
Witness Account
The captain of the aircraft was interviewed and reported observing the vehicle drive toward and then strike the aircraft, moving the airplane sideways approximately 10 inches.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection of the 1988 Dodge Ram Van failed to reveal any anomalies that would prevent the normal operation of the vehicle, specifically the parking brake, the column shifter, and the parking gear.