ACFT TAXIING IN TO GATE STRUCK FENCE WHILE FOLLOWING MARSHALL'S GUIDANCE.

Narrative

FEB/XA/99; NIGHT; LIGHT WINDS; MOON ILLUMINATION NILL; AND RAMP APPEARED CLR OF ICE. TAXI TO GATE AT BUF. 2 OTHER ACFT WERE PARKED WITH ENGS OFF. A SINGLE MARSHALLER WAS ACTING AS WING WALKER. THE MARSHALLER APPEARED TO BE KEEPING ACFT AS FAR FROM OTHER ACFT AS POSSIBLE. THE MARSHALLER WAS POSITIONED PERPENDICULAR TO L WINGTIP AND FORWARD OF THE ACFT. TAXI SPD WAS EXTREMELY SLOW. THE MARSHALLER/WING WALKER DIRECTED A SERIES OF SHORT TURNS TO THE R. ON THE FINAL TURN TO THE R THE L SEAT PLT SENSED OTHER THAN NORMAL ACFT FEEL AND STOPPED THE ACFT. NOSEWHEEL; NOSEWHEEL STEERING; RAMP SURFACE; AND THE WINGTIP WERE SUSPECTED. THE MARSHALLER WAS STILL DIRECTING FORWARD MOVEMENT AFTER THE ACFT WAS STOPPED. THE L SEAT PLT SET THE PARKING BRAKE; SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGS; AND DIRECTED TO INSERT CHALKS. THE PLANE WAS TURNED OVER TO MAINT. PROB CAUSED BY TOO MUCH TRUST IN MARSHALLER. PLTS SHOULD BACK UP MARSHALLER MORE. RECOMMENDATIONS: REQUIRE A WING WALKER WHEN WINGTIP CLRNC IS LESS THAN 25 FT FROM ANY OBSTACLE. PROHIBIT TAXI WITH LESS THAN 10 FT WINGTIP CLRNC. WHEN LESS THAN 10 FT WINGTIP CLRNC EXISTS; REMOVE THE OBSTACLE OR HAVE THE ACFT TOWED. TRAIN PLTS ON WHAT 25 FT AND 10 FT WINGTIP CLRNC LOOKS LIKE FROM THE CAPT; FO; AND XCOCKPIT POS. STRESS TO FLT ATTENDANT; PLT SHOULD BRIEF; THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE CREW AND IF THEY SEE SOMETHING THEY QUESTION -- SPEAK UP. LIST KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TAXI HAZARDS ON THE FLT RELEASE. ANALYZE IF THE WING GROWS DURING A TURN TO INCLUDE TILLER AND FREE CASTER TURNS. DISSEMINATE INCIDENT DETAILS; WITHOUT NAMES; TO INCLUDE LESSONS LEARNED AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS SO THAT WE MAY LEARN FROM THIS EVENT.