# Accident 19991015043609A: Airbus A320231, Phoenix, AZ, October 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 1999, 09:20 local time
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: AWXA
- Location: 33.4295° N, 112.0094° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4295&lon=-112.0094&mi=10
- Aircraft: N627AW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N627AW-2014-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airbus Industrie A320-231 (registry code 3930325, https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-231) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320231
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA015) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991015043609A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING PUSH BACK FROM GATE A-2, AT PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S TERMINAL 4, THE TAIL OF AMERICA WEST AIRLINES' AIRBUS A-320, N627AW, STRUCK THE ELEVATED WALKWAY JOINING CONCOURSES A AND 1N. SPECIFICALLY, THE TUG OPERATOR PUSHED THE AIRCRAFTS' NOSE WHEEL TO A T MARK ON THE RAMP AREA WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CONCOURSE WALKWAY. THE DISTANCE FROM THE T TO THE WALKWAY WAS 94 FEET 4 INCHES AND THE LENGTH OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 123 FEET 3 INCHES. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR, ON AIRCRAFT RIGHT, STRUCK THE REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE OF THE ELEVATED WALKWAY, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE TUG OPERATOR FAILED TO OBSERVE THE EMERGENCY STOP SIGNAL BEING PROVIDED BY THE WING WALKER ON AIRCRAFT RIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, RADIO TRANSMITTED INSTRUCTIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE TUG OPERATOR FROM THE RAMP CONTROL TOWER.(NON-MOVEMENT AREA) TO PUSH THE AIRCRAFT TO THE T, CONTRARY TO AN EXISTING GROUND OPERATIONS BULLETIN PROHIBITING THIS ACTION.

## 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 LAX00LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA015), Oct 15, 1999: Airbus Industrie A-320-231 (N627AW), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airline's failure to fully review the obstruction clearances and revise the pushback procedures in an area of the ramp where new construction had impinged on the available ramp space. Also causal…

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.

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