# NTSB DEN83LA026: Boeing 737-291, N7346F, Denver, CO, December 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1982, 19:30 local (Dec 10, 1982, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Location: 39.7392° N, 104.9847° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Denver, CO, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7392&lon=-104.9847&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 57 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70461/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA026

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi - to takeoff
  - safety advisory - improper, ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-291
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21751
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Observed at: DEN

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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