Incident
After landing on runway 06, a Boeing 737 taxied westbound toward the gate. Airport operations requested the crew to hold on the taxiway between taxiways A4 and A5 to allow a Delta Air Lines pushback crew room to maneuver another airplane. The captain set the parking brakes and made a passenger announcement. Approximately three minutes later, a snowplow struck the airplane from the left rear.
The impact pushed the left main landing gear forward roughly 10 feet, causing the airplane to rotate about its right main landing gear and turn to the right. The captain shut down the engines, requested an assessment from the flight attendants, and directed the first officer to call for fire equipment. The captain surveyed the damage from the cockpit window and the aft galley service door window. By then, the snowplow had backed off to the east about 50 yards.
Environmental Conditions
According to the captain, the airport visibility was reported at 2 miles, but he could see the Western State "W" on a hill approximately 2.5 miles south of the airport. The snowplow operator stated that visibility was poor and that he was unsure of the airplane's location. He reported that as he plowed the taxiway, "out of nowhere was the 737." The driver applied the brakes but could not stop in time.
Aftermath
After assessing the damage and receiving confirmation from the fire crew that it was safe, the airplane was towed to the ramp. Passengers deplaned using the airstairs. Following the accident, the airport implemented several changes to its operating procedures regarding snowplow operations and radio communications with airport vehicles.