# NTSB DEN05IA098: Boeing 737-524, N24633, Salt Lake City, UT, June 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2005, 21:20 local (Jun 20, 2005, 03:20 UTC) - Place: Salt Lake City, UT - Coordinates: 40.789157, -111.959922 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7892&lon=-111.9599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 104 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 61829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05IA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05IA098 ## Probable cause the left wing walker's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Contributing factors were his inadequate initial training, and the failure of other ground personnel to follow company procedures/directives. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - visual lookout - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) - inadequate initial training, ground personnel (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, ground personnel (contributing factor) ## Analysis The jetway had previously been positioned for an MD-80, which required a lower entry level than the Boeing 737. The incident captain stated that he did not use landing or taxi lights as he approached the gate. The airplane stopped and he thought the brake may have grabbed for some reason. He applied a "little power for a moment." When the plane did not move, he shut down the engines. Post incident inspection revealed the left engine inlet had contacted the jetway. There was a 3-inch scratch at the 12 o'clock position. The left wing walker, who took responsibility for the incident, said he did not feel the jet bridge posed a threat to the airplane because "they are supposed to taxi up to the jet bridge...I did not notice the plane would hit the bridge until it was too late. He had been on the job for 6 days. The right wing walker was unaware of the incident. The operations supervisor said she thought the jet bridge was a little close to the J-line but when the plane turned in, she thought there would be enough clearance. When the airplane was about 8 feet from the final stop bar, it lurched as if the brakes had been applied rapidly. She said she had received no signals from the wing walkers. The gate agent (and jetway operator), who had been dealing with a customer issue, did not go out onto the jetway until the airplane was approaching the J-line. Realizing a collision was imminent, he attempted to contact the ramp via radio but was too late. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2005, at 2120 mountain daylight time, a Boeing 737-524, N24633, operated by Continental Airlines as flight 1861 and piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained minor damage when it taxied into jetway A8 at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. The captain, first officer, 3 flight attendants, and 99 passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Newark, New Jersey, at 1815 eastern daylight time, and was destined for Salt Lake City, Utah. The jetway had previously been positioned for a TransMeridian Air MD-80, which does not require the higher entry level as the Boeing 737. The incident captain stated that he did not use landing or taxi lights as he approached the gate. The airplane stopped and he thought the brake may have grabbed for some reason. He applied a "little power for a moment." When the plane did not move, he shut down the engines. Post incident inspection revealed the left engine inlet had contacted the jetway, causing a 3-inch scratch at the 12 o'clock position. In a written statement the left wing walker wrote, "I did not anticipate the jet bridge posing a threat to the aircraft since they are supposed to taxi up to the jet bridge. From my perspective, I did not notice the plane would hit the bridge until it was too late. Still, as left wing walker, I recognize my mistake and take responsibility for my error." He had been on the job for 6 days. The right wing walker was unaware of the incident. The operations supervisor wrote, "I thought the jet bridge was a little close to the J-line but once the plane turned in, I could see there would be enough clearance...As the plane got closer, I began the final slow marshal. The aircraft was about 8 feet from the final stop bar when the plane lurched as if the brakes had been applied rapidly...I had no signals from the wing walkers that anything was wrong." The gate agent (and jetway operator) had been dealing with a customer issue and did not go out onto the jetway until the airplane was approaching the J-line. The agent attempted to contact the ramp via radio, but was too late to prevent the collision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24633](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24633-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 27901, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-524 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-524](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-524) (registry code 1384721) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27901 - Airframe hours: 28212 - Engines: CFM International CFM56-3 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Continental Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: EWR, Newark, NJ - Destination: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 4,837 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 5,279 total, 4,766 in this make and model, 207 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 320° at 17 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: SLC 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. --- 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.