# NTSB DEN88IA167: Boeing 727-100, N1973, Denver, CO, July 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1988, 08:19 local (14:19 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.760929, -104.919631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7609&lon=-104.9196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88IA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17395/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88IA167

## 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
  - aircraft handling - improper, ground personnel (cause)
  - inadequate training, ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - poor, ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - object - pole
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE TAXIING TO THE CARGO RAMP, THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A LIGHTPOLE AS THE FLIGHT CREW WERE DIRECTED BY GND PERS. ONE TAXI DIRECTOR ATTEMPTED TO HANDOFF THE FLIGHT TO ANOTHER BUT THE SECOND MISUNDERSTOOD AND TURNED AWAY. A THIRD PERSON, WHO WAS NOT A TAXI DIRECTOR BUT WAS A SAFETY LOOKOUT, BEGAN TO GIVE TAXI SIGNALS AND THE FLIGHTCREW FOLLOWED HIM. THIS PERSON DETERMINED THAT THE WING WOULD CLEAR THE POLE AND DIRECTED A TURN. HE BELIEVED THE FLIGHTCREW DID NOT TURN AS RAPIDLY AS HE HAD DIRECTED, RESULTING IN THE WING CONTACTING THE POLE. THE SAFETY LOOKOUT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE ACFT BUT HE WAS OUT OF VIEW UNDER THE ACFT NOSE AND HAD TO RUN OUT 15 FEET TO BE SEEN BY THE FLIGHTCREW. THE WINGTIPS ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE FROM THE 727 COCKPIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1973 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-100
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18429
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Connie Kallitta Services
- Registered owner: Meridian Bank Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LCK, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton Int'L, runway 26R, 6,697 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 13,500 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 1 nm away

## 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 19880726030849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880726030849I), Jul 26, 1988: Boeing 72723, Denver, CO, Minor damage. Plane hit a lightpole while taxiing to ramp. Misinterpretation of hand signals between PIC and ground crew a factor

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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