TAXIING OFF GATE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A MARSHALLER; ACFT STRUCK ANOTHER ACFT; WINGTIP TO WINGTIP.

Narrative

TAXIING OUT OF GATE AB AT CLT THE MARSHALLER GAVE ME A SIGNAL TO TURN R OUT OF THE SPOT. THERE WAS ANOTHER DHC8 PARKED ON SPOT/GATE AC. DUE TO THE CLOSE PROX I FURTHER SLOWED DOWN TO AN ALMOST STOP AS THE 2 WINGTIPS CAME CLOSE DURING THE TURN OUT. THE SIGNALMAN WAS POSITIONED UNDER THE WINGTIPS GIVING A 'THUMPS-UP' SIGNAL ALL THE TIME SO I SLOWLY CONTINUED THE TURN; HOWEVER; OUR L WINGTIP STRUCK THE OTHER ACFT WINGTIP; AT WHICH POINT I STOPPED AND SHUT DOWN ENGS TO DEPLANE PAX. DAMAGE TO MY AIRPLANE: STROBE LIGHT AND LENS CAP. DAMAGE TO THE OTHER (PARKED) AIRPLANE: 1-1/2 SQUARE INCH HOLE ON FORWARD TIP OF L AILERON. COMMENTS: PLTS DEPEND (SPECIALLY AT NIGHT) ON THE SIGNALMAN (WINGMAN; MARSHALLER) TO ENSURE THERE IS PROPER CLRNC BTWN AIRPLANES (OBSTRUCTIONS) DURING PUSHBACKS AND TAXI-OUTS; SINCE IT'S HARD FOR US TO JUDGE DISTANCES FROM THE COCKPIT UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS. THE MARSHALLER SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A 'STOP' SIGNAL WHEN THE WINGTIPS WERE WITHIN A 1 FT DISTANCE (AT LEAST) AND REQUEST AN ALTERNATIVE ACTION (I WOULD HAVE REQUESTED AT THAT POINT) A TOW-OUT INSTEAD. MARSHALLERS SHOULD BE TRAINED TO STOP THE MANEUVER WHEN CLRNCS ARE TOO CLOSE (1-2 FT). AIRPLANE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MARSHALLED OUT WITH A L TURN INSTEAD AND PLTS WARNED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT ACCEPT A R TURN OUT.