Vertical Stabilizer Strike Under Pedestrian Bridge

Casualties unknown • Denver, CO, US

An Airbus A320-sized aircraft struck a pedestrian overpass with its vertical stabilizer while taxiing to a gate.

What happened

After landing on runway 07, the flight crew was instructed by ramp control to contact the facility. The ramp control center, which is operated by airport personnel rather than Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel, directed the crew to taxi east on taxiway AS toward gate A44.

While taxiing, the aircraft passed underneath a pedestrian bridge/overpass. During this maneuver, the airplane's vertical stabilizer made contact with the structure.

Findings

Prior to the flight, the crew had been provided with dispatch papers containing company directives. These procedures specified that aircraft larger than the Airbus A320 were prohibited from taxiing beneath the bridge. Additionally, the airport taxi chart included a cautionary note stating that the bridge offered a 40-foot tail clearance and a 117-foot wing clearance.

All Boeing 757-200 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1997-03-02 Boeing 757-2S7 accident near Denver, CO?

An Airbus A320-sized aircraft struck a pedestrian overpass with its vertical stabilizer while taxiing to a gate.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1997-03-02 involved a Boeing 757-2S7, registration N902AW, operated by America West Airlines, at Denver, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the pilot-in-command's failure to comply with company procedures/directives to not taxi the aircraft beneath the bridge/overpass, and his misjudgment of clearance between the vertical stabilizer and the bridge/overpass.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X07522. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

Loading the flight search…