# NTSB DEN83IA119: Boeing 727-31H, N840TW, Colorado Spring, CO, May 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1983, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 25 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16028
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83IA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16028/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83IA119

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - visual lookout - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper training, ground personnel (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, ground personnel (cause)
  - lack of experience, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE STARTING TO TAXI FROM THE GATE FOR DEPARTURE, THE ACFTSTRUCK THE JETWAY WITH THE LEFT WING. THE CAPTIAN STATED THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING THE GROUND GUIDE. THE GROUND GUIDE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD GUIDED AN ACFT & HE HAD NEVER RECIEVED ANY TRAINING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N840TW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-31H
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18905
- Airframe hours: 42596
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Trans World Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 8, 1983
- Departed: COL, COLORADO SPRING, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19830523030499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830523030499I), May 23, 1983: Boeing 72731, Colorado Spring, CO, Minor damage. Struck jetway with left wing tip. Pilot thought he had clearance. Flagman forgot the stop signal.

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.

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