# NTSB FTW97LA177: Boeing 737-201, N217US, Denver, CO, May 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 1997, 13:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.850872, -104.699676 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8509&lon=-104.6997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 96 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20209/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA177 ## Probable cause The flight attendant's failure to assure that the jetway was placed in the proper position prior to opening the forward cabin entry door. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, flight attendant (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, flight attendant (cause) ## Analysis The parked airplane was ready for pushback when the 'B' flight attendant told the 'A' flight attendant that a thru passenger had reported the cabin cleaning crew had mistakenly removed his child's stuffed animal and he wanted it returned. The 'A' flight attendant opened the forward entry door after the jetway had backed away from the airplane. Either losing his balance or not realizing the jetway had backed away, he fell 8 feet, 3 inches to the tarmac below, fracturing both wrists, his jaw, and sustaining a concussion. According to the company's chief flight attendant, the injured flight attendant violated company policy and procedures by opening the cabin door prior to the jetway being placed in position. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 1997, approximately 1325 mountain daylight time, a cabin crew member aboard a parked Boeing 737-201, N217US, was seriously injured when he fell from the aircraft. The airplane was not damaged and there were no injuries to the two cockpit crew members, two other cabin crew members, and 92 passengers. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. According to the accident report submitted by Frontier Airlines, Inc., the airplane was operating as flight 128, scheduled domestic passenger service to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The airplane was ready for pushback from gate A-36 when the "B" flight attendant told the "A" flight attendant that a thru passenger had reported that the cabin cleaning crew had mistakenly removed his child's stuffed animal and that he wanted it returned. The "A" attendant opened the forward entry door after the jetway had backed away from the airplane. Either losing his balance or not realizing the jetway had backed away, he fell 8 feet, 3 inches to the tarmac below. His injuries consisted of two fractured wrists, a fractured jaw, and a concussion. Both "B" and "C" flight attendants witnessed the accident. According to Frontier Airlines chief flight attendant, flight attendants are thoroughly trained on procedures for opening cabin entry doors. First, the flight attendant disables the emergency evacuation slide system, then peers through the door's porthole to make sure the jetway or stairs are in place. Next, the station makes a coded knock on the door. The cabin attendant then "cracks" the door before opening it completely. She said the injured flight attendant violated company policy and procedures that resulted in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N217US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N217US-2000-07-20), registration cancelled 2000-07-20, S/N 20215 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-201 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-201) (registry code 1384454) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20215 - Airframe hours: 65179 - Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Frontier Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: First Security Bank, N.A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, May 3, 1997, 3 hours before - Departed: DEN - Destination: MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,257 total, 1,307 in this make and model, 7,605 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DEN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970504008399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970504008399A), May 4, 1997: Boeing 737201, Denver, CO. Aircraft parked on ramp, flight attendant fell from forward entrance door onto ramp. (.4)the parked airplane was ready for pushback when the 'b' flight… ## Other investigations on N217US (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL89IA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89IA099), Mar 9, 1989: Boeing 737-201 (N217US), Dayton, OH, incident, no damage. Probable cause: AN EXCESSIVELY WORN OUTFLOW VALVE IN THE CABIN EVIRONMENTAL/PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM THAT RESULTED IN A RAPID CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION. 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.