Incident
While taxiing to the cargo ramp, the left wing of a Boeing 727 collided with a lightpole. Ground personnel were directing the flight crew.
Sequence of Events
One taxi director attempted to hand off guidance of the aircraft to another ground crew member, but the second person misunderstood and turned away. A third individual, who was not a taxi director but was serving as a safety lookout, began giving taxi signals, and the flight crew followed his directions.
The safety lookout determined that the wing would clear the lightpole and directed the flight crew to turn. He later believed that the flight crew did not turn as rapidly as he had directed, which resulted in the wing contacting the pole.
The safety lookout stated that he attempted to stop the aircraft, but he was out of view under the aircraft's nose and had to run out 15 feet to be seen by the flight crew.
Visibility Considerations
The source notes that the wingtips are difficult to see from the cockpit of the 727.