DEN83LA026

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 737-291 · Denver, CO · December 10, 1982

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 9, 1982, 19:30 local (Dec 10, 1982, 02:30 UTC)
Place
Denver, CO
Injuries
57 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N7346FBoeing 737-291
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report December 9, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
70461

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Miscellaneous/otherTaxi - to takeoff
Safety advisory - improperGround personnelFactor
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause

Analysis

During a "power-back" operation from the terminal gate, a ground signal person and two wing walker were used in accordance with procedures. After reverse thrust was applied and the aircraft was rolling backwards. The signal person communicated an emergency stop signal to the pilot when he saw crossing ground traffic (another aircraft). When the captain saw the signal, he transitioned brakes. At that time, a flight attendant was thrown against the corner of a cart in the galley and injured. According to the power-back procedures, the aircraft will be stopped (both in normal and emergency situations) by a signal for straight ahead movement. The captain will stop the plane by quietly coming out of reverse and applying forward thrust. The use of brakes is prohibited while the aircraft is moving backwards. The signal person used the forward signal, then crossed his wands for a normal (braking) stop during the emergency stop.

Aircraft

Registration
N7346F
Reported as
Boeing 737-291
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21751
Engine
P&W JT8D, turbo fan
Fire
Unknown
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Frontier Airlines, Inc.
Registered owner
Frontier Airlines, Inc.
Departed
Denver, CO
Destination
Rock Springs, WY
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
Stapelton International

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Medical
Unknown, Unknown

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Observed at
DEN