Incident Overview
A student pilot, accompanied by a flight instructor, had just landed and requested taxi clearance to return to the runway for additional traffic pattern practice. Air traffic control instructed them to taxi to the runway at a taxiway intersection. They complied and positioned their airplane behind another aircraft holding short of the runway.
While stopped and awaiting takeoff clearance, the student pilot reported feeling a sudden shake. Turning around, she observed that another airplane had struck their airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder.
Taxiing Pilot's Account
The solo student pilot of the taxiing airplane stated that after landing, during taxi from the runway to parking, he noticed an airplane holding short of the runway at a taxiway intersection. Believing there was sufficient clearance, he attempted to taxi around the stopped airplane. However, his left wing made contact with the stationary aircraft.
Damage Assessment
The stopped airplane sustained substantial damage to its vertical stabilizer and rudder as a result of the collision.
Mechanical Status
Both the student pilot of the stopped airplane and the flight school manager for the taxiing airplane confirmed that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.