1 fatality

Ramp Guideman Seriously Injured by Nose Gear During Pushback (N519UA)

Phoenix, AZ, US

On March 21, 1992, a Boeing 757-222 (registration N519UA) operated by United Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The guideman failed to see and avoid the oncoming nose gear to maintain proper clearance. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N519UA
Aircraft registered N519UA. Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Boeing 757-222 ran over a ramp guideman's right leg with the nose gear during pushback, severing the leg. The guideman failed to maintain clearance from the moving aircraft.

Incident Overview

A ramp guideman sustained serious injuries when the nose gear of a Boeing 757-222 rolled over his right leg during pushback operations at a gate area. The accident occurred on the yellow taxi line while two ground personnel, a tractor driver and the guideman, were conducting the pushback.

Sequence of Events

The guideman was positioned to the right of the aircraft's fuselage and aft of the nose gear. As the pushback progressed, the guideman moved toward the fuselage. The investigation determined that the guideman failed to see and avoid the oncoming nose gear and did not maintain proper clearance. The nose gear caught the guideman's right heel and subsequently ran over his right leg, crushing and severing it.

Contributing Factors

The airline stated that the guide person should not have positioned himself on the yellow line during pushback. The guideman had completed his recurrent annual ramp training in February 1992.

Conclusion

The incident occurred on the yellow taxi line in the gate area. No other injuries or damage were reported.

Probable cause

The guideman failed to see and avoid the oncoming nose gear to maintain proper clearance.

All Boeing 757-200 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Mar 1992 Boeing 757-222 accident near Phoenix, AZ?

A Boeing 757-222 ran over a ramp guideman's right leg with the nose gear during pushback, severing the leg. The guideman failed to maintain clearance from the moving aircraft.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Mar 1992 Boeing 757-222 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Mar 1992 involved a Boeing 757-222, registration N519UA, operated by United Airlines, at Phoenix, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The guideman failed to see and avoid the oncoming nose gear to maintain proper clearance.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X14322. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.