What happened
While taxiing for takeoff on a 50-foot wide taxiway, the flightcrew observed an airport vehicle parked on the grass to the right of the taxiway. The crew also noted a larger aircraft that had previously taxied past that location and determined that the clearance was sufficient to proceed.
As the aircraft continued its taxi, the right wing struck the rear of the parked vehicle. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was positioned approximately 6 feet from the edge of the taxiway, placing it about 28 feet into a safety area that extended an additional 34 feet from the taxiway edge.
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the driver of the airport vehicle had not notified air traffic control regarding the vehicle's parked position. Additionally, certain buildings obstructed the view of the vehicle from the control tower.