MD88 strikes container loader with wingtip at atlanta.

Attributes
ACN	458221
Time
Date	199912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : 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 : 80 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	458221
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe conflict : ground critical ground encounters : vehicle non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Airport Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After landing, we were taxiing to gate #xx. Approaching the ramp area, we were instructed to go to gate #yy. As I was turning into the gate area, I slowed the aircraft to a near stop, since I had a red light for entry. After receiving a green light, I proceeded on in for parking. I stopped the aircraft normally by the jetway, and shut down the aircraft. After the passenger had left the plane, a customer service agent came on board and informed me I had struck a container loader with my right wing. I went outside and inspected the damage. There was yellow paint on the right wingtip light housing and a skin tear in the wingtip approximately 4 inches just aft of the light housing. A mechanic inspected the damage and said a new wingtip would be required. I followed all ground guidance properly, and feel full responsibility goes to the ground crew. They should have noticed the loader slightly inside the 'safe' line.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 STRIKES CONTAINER LOADER WITH WINGTIP AT ATLANTA.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG, WE WERE TAXIING TO GATE #XX. APCHING THE RAMP AREA, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO GO TO GATE #YY. AS I WAS TURNING INTO THE GATE AREA, I SLOWED THE ACFT TO A NEAR STOP, SINCE I HAD A RED LIGHT FOR ENTRY. AFTER RECEIVING A GREEN LIGHT, I PROCEEDED ON IN FOR PARKING. I STOPPED THE ACFT NORMALLY BY THE JETWAY, AND SHUT DOWN THE ACFT. AFTER THE PAX HAD LEFT THE PLANE, A CUSTOMER SVC AGENT CAME ON BOARD AND INFORMED ME I HAD STRUCK A CONTAINER LOADER WITH MY R WING. I WENT OUTSIDE AND INSPECTED THE DAMAGE. THERE WAS YELLOW PAINT ON THE R WINGTIP LIGHT HOUSING AND A SKIN TEAR IN THE WINGTIP APPROX 4 INCHES JUST AFT OF THE LIGHT HOUSING. A MECH INSPECTED THE DAMAGE AND SAID A NEW WINGTIP WOULD BE REQUIRED. I FOLLOWED ALL GND GUIDANCE PROPERLY, AND FEEL FULL RESPONSIBILITY GOES TO THE GND CREW. THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE LOADER SLIGHTLY INSIDE THE 'SAFE' LINE.

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.