# Incident 20190212009061I: Boeing 737-790, Kotzebue, AK, February 12, 2019

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 2019, 12:15 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Damage: Minor damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: ASAA
- Location: 66.8868° N, 162.4917° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kotzebue, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8868&lon=-162.4917&mi=10
- Aircraft: N644AS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N644AS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-790 (registry code 13844CN, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-790) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56 series (registry code 13802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-790
- Reported engine: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES
- People aboard: 129
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 14,706 total, 5,839 in this make and model, 76 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190212009061I

## Narrative

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

WHEN AS155, A B-737-700 PASSENGER AIRCRAFT ARRIVED IN OTZ, IT WAS PARKED WITH THE INTENT IT WOULD COMPLETE A 180-DEGREE TURN TO DEPART THE RAMP AREA. IT WAS PARKED BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT OF ANOTHER B737-700 FREIGHTER AIRCRAFT.  BEFORE AS155 TAXIED OUT, THE CAPTAIN DECLINED THE RAMPERS OFFER OF A 180-DEGREE TURN AND WANTED TO TAXI IN A DIRECTION THAT WOULD PASS BY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREIGHTER AIRCRAFT. THE CAPTAINS DECISION WAS POSSIBLY BASED ON RECENT JET-BLAST EVENTS ON THE OTZ RAMP.

THE STATION HAD THE REQUIRED GROUND CREW PLUS ONE ADDITIONAL LEAD RAMPER PROVIDING SUPPORT TO AN INEXPERIENCED GROUND CREW MEMBER. THE LEAD RAMPER DID NOT HAVE WANDS. WHEN PREPARING TO TAXI, RAMPERS POSITIONED THEMSELVES NEAR THE RIGHT WING OF THE PARKED FREIGHTER AIRCRAFT.

AS AS155 TAXIED PAST THE FREIGHTER AIRCRAFT, THEIR WING-TIPS COLLIDED, CAUSING WINGLET DAMAGE TO BOTH AIRCRAFT. AS155 STOPPED, AND AFTER ASSESSING THE SITUATION WITH GROUND CREW, TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP. JUST PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE MARSHALLER AND THE LEAD RAMPER NOTICED THEY NEEDED AN EMERGENCY STOP, BUT THEY COULD NOT ADVISE THE PILOTS, DUE TO THEIR POSITION ON THE GROUND BEHIND THE VIEW OF THE PILOTS. THE INEXPERIENCED RAMPER SAID, ?I WAS WATCHING THE WING-TIP AND DIDN?T HEAR THE LEAD RAMPER YELL ?STOP? ?, AND NEVER SIGNALED FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO STOP.

ASAA AIRPORT OPERATIONS CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS EVENT AND AN ASAA SAFETY TEAM IS CONDUCTING AN AUDIT OF THE OTZ STATION. THE RESULTS OF THIS AUDIT WILL BE USED TO TRAIN OTHER STATIONS AND EMPLOYEES TO PREVENT A SIMILAR INCIDENT.  ASAA CMO INSPECTORS WILL BE ATTENDING THIS AUDIT AND CONDUCTING A STATION INSPECTION.

## Other reports on N644AS (1)

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

- [Incident 20240228000729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240228000729I), Feb 28, 2024: Boeing 737-790 (N644AS), Juneau, AK, Minor damage. On touch down an eagle flew into the right-hand trailing edge flap. No other damage and no injuries. Aircraft ferryed to seattle to replace the flap.

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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