What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) N254WN was issue a push back clearance at gate B13 with the intention of flight. While pushing out, the tug operator diverted his attention to the jet way to his left which separated gate B13 and gate B15. The wing walker (ground guide) observed what was likey to happen if the aircraft continued the push back and tried to signal the tug to stop. However, the tug operator failed to observe him in time to prevent the slight collision of the right winglet of the push back aircraft and the leading edge of the left winglet on the adjacent B-737 (N28SW) which was stopped and off-loading passengers at gate B15.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) N254WN WAS ISSUE A PUSH BACK CLEARANCE AT GATE B13 WITH THE INTENTION OF FLIGHT. WHILE PUSHING OUT, THE TUG OPERATOR DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO THE JET WAY TO HIS LEFT WHICH SEPARATED GATE B13 AND GATE B15. THE WING WALKER (GROUND GUIDE) OBSERVED WHAT WAS LIKEY TO HAPPEN IF THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THE PUSH BACK AND TRIED TO SIGNAL THE TUG TO STOP. HOWEVER, THE TUG OPERATOR FAILED TO OBSERVE HIM IN TIME TO PREVENT THE SLIGHT COLLISION OF THE RIGHT WINGLET OF THE PUSH BACK AIRCRAFT AND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WINGLET ON THE ADJACENT B-737 (N28SW) WHICH WAS STOPPED AND OFF-LOADING PASSENGERS AT GATE B15.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.