Captain of an mdt struck wingtip during taxi from the gate on airstairs.

Attributes
ACN	322790
Time
Date	199511
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : kdk
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	322790
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

WX in kodiak was good VFR with moderate turbulence in strong gusty winds. After taxiing to gate first officer and I were planning our departure. Once cleared to begin our taxi by ramp personnel we started off the gate. I cleared the front and right side of aircraft. Ramp personnel were watching the left wing. After we had rolled about 10 ft we were turning right and I looked again at the left wing and noticed some airstairs used by another carrier were moving. After investigation we determined the left wingtip had contacted the upper portion of the airstairs. It was very difficult to judge the wingtip in relation to the airstairs from the cockpit. I was relying on the ramp personnel to clear the wingtip. The aircraft had been guided in and parked in the designated position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN MDT STRUCK WINGTIP DURING TAXI FROM THE GATE ON AIRSTAIRS.

Narrative: WX IN KODIAK WAS GOOD VFR WITH MODERATE TURB IN STRONG GUSTY WINDS. AFTER TAXIING TO GATE FO AND I WERE PLANNING OUR DEP. ONCE CLRED TO BEGIN OUR TAXI BY RAMP PERSONNEL WE STARTED OFF THE GATE. I CLRED THE FRONT AND R SIDE OF ACFT. RAMP PERSONNEL WERE WATCHING THE L WING. AFTER WE HAD ROLLED ABOUT 10 FT WE WERE TURNING R AND I LOOKED AGAIN AT THE L WING AND NOTICED SOME AIRSTAIRS USED BY ANOTHER CARRIER WERE MOVING. AFTER INVESTIGATION WE DETERMINED THE L WINGTIP HAD CONTACTED THE UPPER PORTION OF THE AIRSTAIRS. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE WINGTIP IN RELATION TO THE AIRSTAIRS FROM THE COCKPIT. I WAS RELYING ON THE RAMP PERSONNEL TO CLR THE WINGTIP. THE ACFT HAD BEEN GUIDED IN AND PARKED IN THE DESIGNATED POS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.