Dash 8-100
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Weather; Human Factors
To start off with it was a very dark and rainy night and visibility was very poor. The maintenance truck that I was driving doesn't have very bright head lights or proper sized windshield wipers. When the planes are pushed back from this gate they are pushed onto the road which is a 'T' intersection that has two stops and one way without a stop. I was traveling on this road which does not have a STOP sign across taxi way to the T intersection where the aircraft was struck. It has been only a little over a month since this intersection was installed and there have already been three vehicle accidents that I have seen at this location. This intersection isn't in a very good location.As I was coming across the taxi way I did not see the aircraft being pushed back from the gate due to visibility issues. Also the Wing walkers were more towards the front of the wing of the aircraft and not towards the road which is normal procedure and were not visible to me. I also never saw the wands being held up to indicate the aircraft was being pushed back. The next thing I knew the aircraft was in front of me and although I attempted to swerve to miss it the truck struck the tail end of the aircraft.This accident happened due to poor visibility/weather; gate location; new three way intersection directly behind the gate.Airplane was debarked. Airport OPS did investigation and airplane was ferried out for repairs.I suggest that they change intersection behind gate; possible third stop sign from the direction I was traveling or redirect intersection from behind the gate. Also the work vehicle needs brighter headlights and proper size/working windshield wipers to aid visibility. Also proper wing walker positioning.
An aircraft was pushing back from a gate when; due to poor visibility; a mechanic struck the tail of the aircraft while driving a maintenance vehicle.