A319 STRUCK WINGTIP ON RAMP LIGHT POLE WHILE FOLLOWING MARSHALER INSTRUCTIONS AT LIT.
Synopsis
A319 STRUCK WINGTIP ON RAMP LIGHT POLE WHILE FOLLOWING MARSHALER INSTRUCTIONS AT LIT.
Narrative
DIVERTED TO LIT FOR WX AT MEM. WHILE FOLLOWING A 'FOLLOW ME TRUCK' TO PARK AT RAMP X; THE ACFT STRUCK A LIGHT POLE WITH THE L WINGTIP. UPON EXITING THE TXWY; GND CTL TOLD US TO LOOK FOR THE FOLLOW ME TRUCK ON TXWY U. WE WERE NOT GIVEN SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE WE WOULD PARK OTHER THAN 'FOLLOW THE TRUCK.' THERE WAS NO COM WITH THE TRUCK; THEREFORE; WE COULD NOT PLAN OR DISCUSS OUR APCH TO THE RAMP. WE JUST FOLLOWED THE TRUCK TO REMOTE RAMP X. WE WERE LED TO THE S END TO PROCEED W AND DO A 180 DEG TURN TO FACE E ON THE N SIDE OF RAMP X (SEE LIT 10-9). THE LIGHT POLE IS LOCATED ON THE SE END OF THE RAMP; IS BROWN IN COLOR; AND BLENDS INTO THE BUILDINGS IN THE BACKGROUND WHICH ARE BROWN. I WAS LOOKING TO MY R BECAUSE THE CAPT COULD NOT SEE THE MARSHALER WHO WAS ON THE NE CORNER FACING W. WE ENTERED THE RAMP AT APPROX 3-4 KTS. WHEN WE COMPLETED OUR 180 DEG TURN AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE; THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT ADVISED US THAT A PAX NOTICED WE HAD STRUCK THE LIGHT POLE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: 1) UNSCHEDULED OPS AT AN ARPT WHICH THE AIRBUS DOES NOT OPERATE INTO. 2) NOT HAVING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE WE WOULD PARK UNTIL WE WERE THERE. 3) TRYING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE 'FOLLOW ME' TRUCK AND MARSHALER AT SAME TIME DIVIDED OUR ATTN. 4) COLOR AND PROX OF LIGHT POLE TO THE RAMP. 5) CREW NOT NOTICING THE POLE.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.