# NTSB LAX92LA147: Boeing 757-222, N519UA, Phoenix, AZ, March 21, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1992, 13:29 local (20:29 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Location: 33.4348° N, 112.0289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL (PHX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4348&lon=-112.0289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 153 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27579/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA147

## Probable cause

THE GROUND GUIDE'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AND HIS IMPROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT BY FAILING TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE NOSE GEAR DURING THE PUSH BACK OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi - pushback/tow
  - procedures/directives - not followed, ground personnel (cause)
  - visual lookout - improper, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

A RAMP GUIDEMAN WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN A BOEING 757-222 RAN OVER HIS RIGHT LEG WITH THE NOSE GEAR DURING PUSH BACK. TWO GROUND PERSONNEL WERE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION ON THE RAMP AREA. ONE PERSON WAS THE TRACTOR DRIVER AND THE OTHER PERSON WAS THE GUIDEMAN. THE GUIDEMAN WAS WALKING TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE AND AFT OF THE NOSE GEAR. DURING THE PUSH BACK THE GUIDEMAN MOVED TOWARDS THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE. THE GUIDEMAN FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID THE ONCOMING NOSE GEAR TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE.  THE NOSE GEAR CAUGHT THE GUIDEMAN'S RIGHT HEEL AND RAN OVER HIS RIGHT LEG CRUSHING AND SEVERING IT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE YELLOW TAXI LINE IN THE GATE AREA. THE GUIDEMAN HAD COMPLETED HIS RECURRENT ANNUAL RAMP TRAINING IN FEBRUARY 1992. ACCORDING TO THE AIRLINE, THE GUIDE PERSON SHOULD NOT HAVE POSITIONED HIMSELF ON THE YELLOW LINE DURING PUSH BACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N519UA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757-222
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24872
- Airframe hours: 5368
- Engines: P&W PW 2000/40 37510 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 8, 1992
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PHX, Sky Harbour Int'L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,564 total, 748 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 26 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHX, 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).

- [Accident 19920321006949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920321006949A), Mar 21, 1992: Boeing 757222, Phoenix, AZ. Ground crewman leg was severed by the 757S nose wheel during push back from gate. Crewman in wrong position.

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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