# Accident 19970504008399A: Boeing 737201, Denver, CO, May 4, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 1997, 13:25 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Denver International
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: F3LA
- Location: 39.8509° N, 104.6997° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8509&lon=-104.6997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N217US, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N217US-2000-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-201 (registry code 1384454, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737201
- Reported engine: PWA JT8D9A
- People aboard: 95
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,257 total, 1,307 in this make and model, 185 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970504008399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT PARKED ON RAMP, FLIGHT ATTENDANT FELL FROM FORWARD ENTRANCE DOOR ONTO RAMP. (.4)THE PARKED AIRPLANE WAS READY FOR PUSHBACK WHEN THE 'B' FLIGHT ATTENDANT TOLD THE 'A' FLIGHT ATTENDANT THAT A THRU PASSENGER HAD REPORTED THE CABIN CLEANING CREW HAD MISTAKENLY REMOVED HIS CHILD'S STUFFED ANIMAL AND HE WANTED IT RETURNED.  THE 'A' FLIGHT ATTENDANT OPENED THE FORWARD ENTRY DOOR AFTER THE JETWAY HAD BACKED AWAY FROM THE AIRPLANE. EITHER LOSING HIS BALANCE OR NOT REALIZING THE JETWAY HAD BACKED AWAY, HE FELL 8 FEET, 3 INCHES TO THE TARMAC BELOW, FRACTURING BOTH WRISTS, HIS JAW, AND SUSTAINING A CONCUSSION.  ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY'S CHIEF FLIGHT ATTENDANT, THE INJURED FLIGHT ATTENDANT VIOLATED COMPANY POLICY AND PROCEDURES BY OPENING THE CABIN DOOR PRIOR TO THE JETWAY BEING PLACED IN POSITION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA177), May 4, 1997: Boeing 737-201 (N217US), Denver, CO, no damage. Probable cause: The flight attendant's failure to assure that the jetway was placed in the proper position prior to opening the forward cabin entry door.

## Other reports on N217US (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19980925038689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980925038689I), Sep 25, 1998: Boeing 737201 (N217US), El Paso, TX. (-5) 2 - 1/2 Inch hydraulic chaffed thru causing loss of -a- system hydraulic fluid. Location was right hand aft wing spar inboard of #2 engine pylon. Crew…
- [Incident 19890309003999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890309003999I), Mar 9, 1989: Boeing 737201 (N217US), Dayton, OH. Lost control of pressurization system. Emergency descent. Found a faulty outflow valve.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.