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Aircraft Vertical Stabilizer Strikes Pedestrian Bridge During Taxi (N902AW)

Denver, CO, US

On March 2, 1997, a Boeing 757-2S7 (registration N902AW) operated by America West Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Denver, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: 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. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 14 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 N902AW
Aircraft registered N902AW. Photo: Aeroprints.com / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After landing on runway 07, an airplane taxied under a pedestrian bridge as directed by ramp control. The vertical stabilizer struck the bridge. Company procedures prohibited aircraft larger than an Airbus A320 from taxiing beneath the bridge, and the airport taxi chart noted clearance limits.

Occurrence

The airplane landed on runway 07 and the crew was instructed to contact ramp control. Ramp control, staffed by airport personnel rather than air traffic control personnel, directed the crew to taxi east on taxiway AS to gate A44. While taxiing, the airplane passed underneath a pedestrian bridge/overpass. The airplane's vertical stabilizer struck the bridge.

Procedures and Notes

According to the company's procedures and directives, aircraft larger than the Airbus A320 were not to be taxied beneath the bridge. The crew had been advised of this restriction via dispatch papers. Additionally, a cautionary note on the airport taxi chart indicated that the bridge provided 40-foot tail clearance and 117-foot wing clearance.

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

More Boeing 757 safety records →

All Boeing 757-200 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

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

After landing on runway 07, an airplane taxied under a pedestrian bridge as directed by ramp control. The vertical stabilizer struck the bridge. Company procedures prohibited aircraft larger than an Airbus A320 from taxiing beneath the bridge, and the airport taxi chart noted clearance limits.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Mar 1997 Boeing 757-2S7 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Mar 1997 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.

More accident analyses

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.