DC8 struck by mobile stair vehicle after parking.

Attributes
ACN	680999
Time
Date	200512
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8F
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	680999
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters : vehicle non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We had just pulled in to the gate. The parking brake was set; #3 engine was running while we were awaiting external power; chocks and stairs. A tremendous 'jolt' rocked the aircraft. We immediately thought we had been hit with the k-loader; however; after opening and looking out the left cockpit window I saw a set of stairs buried into my left wingtip with a tug turned sideways. The parking spot was very congested with dollies; containers and people. The cones had not been placed under the wingtips yet. It appeared the tug driver was under pressure to 'hurry up' since we were over an hour late arriving. Everyone should take a moment to think about safe work practices and follow company procedures. Usually these procedures have been developed after someone had a similar mishap before in an effort to prevent a repeat.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8 STRUCK BY MOBILE STAIR VEHICLE AFTER PARKING.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST PULLED IN TO THE GATE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS SET; #3 ENG WAS RUNNING WHILE WE WERE AWAITING EXTERNAL PWR; CHOCKS AND STAIRS. A TREMENDOUS 'JOLT' ROCKED THE ACFT. WE IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN HIT WITH THE K-LOADER; HOWEVER; AFTER OPENING AND LOOKING OUT THE L COCKPIT WINDOW I SAW A SET OF STAIRS BURIED INTO MY L WINGTIP WITH A TUG TURNED SIDEWAYS. THE PARKING SPOT WAS VERY CONGESTED WITH DOLLIES; CONTAINERS AND PEOPLE. THE CONES HAD NOT BEEN PLACED UNDER THE WINGTIPS YET. IT APPEARED THE TUG DRIVER WAS UNDER PRESSURE TO 'HURRY UP' SINCE WE WERE OVER AN HR LATE ARRIVING. EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT SAFE WORK PRACTICES AND FOLLOW COMPANY PROCS. USUALLY THESE PROCS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AFTER SOMEONE HAD A SIMILAR MISHAP BEFORE IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT A REPEAT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.