Boeing 737-322 and Boeing 737-322 incident near Denver, Colorado, May 17, 2005
On May 17, 2005 at about 2:56 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-322 (N305UA) and Boeing 737-322 (N373UA), were involved in the same incident near Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport). No one was hurt; 187 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance resulting in the left wing of the aircraft striking the right wing of an adjacent aircraft. A factor in this incident was the improper procedure performed by the ground crew (of the second aircraft involved).
the improper use of procedure used by the ground personnel resulting in the right wing of the aircraft colliding with the left wing of another aircraft. A factor in this incident was the failure to maintain clearance by the flight crew of the other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2005 · about 2:56 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver International Airport · map
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 187 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-322 · all 737-322s on the register
- Registration
- N305UA · registry record · serial 23666
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-322 · all 737-322s on the register
- Registration
- N373UA · no longer on the register · serial 24638
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-322 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two Boeing 737 company aircraft were involved in a ground collision while on the ramp. The first airplane, N305UA, was pushed straight back from its gate via a tug and wing walker. The airplane was disconnected from the tug and its engines were running. The pilots received hand signals from the tug operator releasing them from his guidance. The second airplane, N373UA, was being pushed back an adjacent gate via a tug and wing walker. The wing walker, who was positioned at the front of the right wing, stopped the pushback. The wing walker and tug operator had a brief discussion which resulted in the tug operator pulling the aircraft back toward the gate. The pilots of the first airplane visually cleared the area and began to taxi by turning to the west. During the turn, the left wing tip of the first airplane struck the right wing tip of the second company airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-322 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two Boeing 737 company aircraft were involved in a ground collision while on the ramp. The first airplane, N305UA, was pushed straight back from its gate via a tug and wing walker. The airplane was disconnected from the tug and its engines were running. The pilots received hand signals from the tug operator releasing them from his guidance. The second airplane, N373UA, was being pushed back an adjacent gate via a tug and wing walker. The wing walker, who was positioned at the front of the right wing, stopped the pushback. The wing walker and tug operator had a brief discussion which resulted in the tug operator pulling the aircraft back toward the gate. The pilots of the first airplane visually cleared the area and began to taxi by turning to the west. During the turn, the left wing tip of the first airplane struck the right wing tip of the second company airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Boeing 737-322 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,192 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,766 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53,316 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 130,000 lb
- Seats: 127
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM56-3-C1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM56-3-C1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 2:56 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.51 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from DEN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 125 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-322 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,361 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,323 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45,202 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 130,000 lb
- Seats: 125
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM56-3-C1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM56-3-C1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 2:56 pm
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 57 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N305UA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.