A B737-400; BEING GUIDED IN TO A GATE WITH A MARSHALLER AND 2 WING WALKERS; STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK INCURRING DAMAGE TO THE L WINGTIP.

Date: 1998-12 · Aircraft: B737-400

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

A B737-400; BEING GUIDED IN TO A GATE WITH A MARSHALLER AND 2 WING WALKERS; STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK INCURRING DAMAGE TO THE L WINGTIP.

Narrative

ON TAXI IN TO GATE Z AT PDX; ACFT L WING STRUCK A DEICING TRUCK THAT HAD BEEN PARKED PARTIALLY OVER 'CIRCLE OF SAFETY' LINE. AS THE CAPT; THE ACFT WAS UNDER MY CTL. I WAS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MARSHALLER; AND I HAD RECEIVED A 'THUMBS UP' FROM BOTH WING WALKERS. THE ACFT WAS WITHIN 2 OR 3 FT OF THE PARKING LINE AND WAS MOVING ONLY 1 OR 2 MPH. THE COPLT AND I FELT A 'SLIGHT SHUDDER' AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE ACFT. THE MARSHALLER WAS UNAWARE THAT WE HAD STRUCK THE TRUCK; AND CONTINUED TO URGE US FORWARD WITH THE WANDS. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE L WING WALKER RAN TO HER THAT SHE REALIZED WE HAD STRUCK THE VEHICLE. THE COPLT AND I THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE RUN OVER A CHOCK -- THE IMPACT WAS THAT SLIGHT. DAMAGE WAS VERY MINIMAL; BUT UNNERVING JUST THE SAME. THIS WAS A CLASSIC CHAIN OF EVENTS SCENARIO. THERE WERE LOTS OF BAGGAGE CARTS ON THE RAMP. BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION; THE DEICING TRUCK DRIVER LEFT THE TRUCK SLIGHTLY OVER THE 'CIRCLE OF SAFETY' LINE. WHEN THE GND CREW WENT OUT TO MARSHAL IN THE ACFT; THEY DIDN'T CHK TO SEE IF THE AREA WAS CLR. THE RAIN PARTIALLY OBSCURED THE SAFETY LINES SO THE CREW WAS UNAWARE THE TRUCK WAS PARTIALLY OVER THE LINE; AND FINALLY WHEN THE L WING WALKER REALIZED THAT A COLLISION WAS IMMINENT; HIS SIGNAL FOR AN EMER STOP WENT UNHEEDED BECAUSE THE MARSHALLER HAD LOST SIGHT OF THE WING WALKER.

More incidents for this aircraft family →

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.