CHI07FA020

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A-320-200 · Chicago, IL · November 7, 2006

Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
November 7, 2006, 08:14 local (14:14 UTC)
Place
Chicago, IL
Injuries
216 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N428UAAirbus A-320-200N328UABoeing 737-300
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - ORD FSDO
Case key
64845

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot-in-command of the other airplane failed to maintain clearance with the parked airplane during taxi for takeoff.

The pilot-in-command failed to maintain clearance with the parked airplane during taxi for takeoff.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi - to takeoff
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectStanding - engine(s) operating
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The left winglet on an Airbus A-320-200 contacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on a Boeing 737-300 while both airplanes were taxiing for takeoff on runway 32L at the O'Hare International Airport. The initial taxi clearance given to both airplanes was Juliet, to Juliet-1, left on Tango to runway 32L with the Airbus following behind the Boeing. The crew of the Boeing reported they followed the taxi route and turned left onto Juliet-1. While on Juliet-1, they stopped short of the intersecting service road because of traffic in front of them and vehicles on the service road. Because traffic was backing up, the taxi clearance for the Airbus was amended to continue straight on Juliet, to Whiskey, to Tango, then back track on Tango, and hold short of Juliet-1. As the Airbus continued to taxi straight on Juliet it passed behind the Boeing. It was at this time that the left winglet on the Airbus contacted the underside of the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on the Boeing. Both airplanes subsequently returned to the gates and were deplaned normally.

The left winglet on an Airbus A-320-200 contacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on a Boeing 737-300 while both airplanes were taxiing for takeoff on runway 32L at the O'Hare International Airport. The initial taxi clearance given to both airplanes was Juliet, to Juliet-1, left on Tango to runway 32L with the Airbus following behind the Boeing. The crew of the Boeing reported they followed the taxi route and turned left onto Juliet-1. While on Juliet-1, they stopped short of the intersecting service road because of traffic in front of them and vehicles on the service road. Because traffic was backing up, the taxi clearance for the Airbus was amended to continue straight on Juliet, to Whiskey, to Tango, then back track on Tango, and hold short of Juliet-1. As the Airbus continued to taxi straight on Juliet it passed behind the Boeing. It was at this time that the left winglet on the Airbus contacted the underside of the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on the Boeing. Both airplanes subsequently returned to the gates and were deplaned normally.

Factual narrative

On November 7, 2006, at 0814 central standard time, an Airbus A-320-200, N428UA, being operated as United Airlines flight 732 collided with a Boeing 737-300, N328UA, being operated as United Airlines flight 672, while taxiing for takeoff at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. There were no injuries to the 2 flight crew members, 3 flight attendants, and 110 passengers on board the Boeing, or to the 2 flight crew members, 3 flight attendants, and 96 passengers on board the Airbus. There was substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer on the Boeing and minor damage to the left winglet on the Airbus. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 121, scheduled passenger service at the time of the accident. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and instrument flight rules flight plans were filed for both airplanes. The Boeing was en route to LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York, New York, and the Airbus was en route to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD), Washington D.C.

Both airplanes were taxiing to runway 32L for takeoff. The initial taxi clearance given to both airplanes was Juliet, to Juliet-1, left on Tango to runway 32L with the Airbus following the Boeing. The crew of the Boeing reported they followed the taxi route and turned left onto Juliet-1. While on Juliet-1, they stopped short of the intersecting service road because of traffic in front of them and vehicles on the service road. Because traffic was backing up, the taxi clearance for the Airbus was amended to continue straight on Juliet, to Whiskey, to Tango, then back track on Tango, and hold short of Juliet-1. As the Airbus continued to taxi straight on Juliet it passed behind the Boeing. It was at this time that the left winglet on the Airbus contacted the underside of the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on the Boeing. Both airplanes subsequently returned to the gates and were deplaned normally.

On November 7, 2006, at 0814 central standard time, an Airbus A-320-200, N428UA, being operated as United Airlines flight 732 collided with a Boeing 737-300, N328UA, being operated as United Airlines flight 672, while taxiing for takeoff at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. There were no injuries to the 2 flight crew members, 3 flight attendants, and 110 passengers on board the Boeing, or to the 2 flight crew members, 3 flight attendants, and 96 passengers on board the Airbus. There was substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer on the Boeing and minor damage to the left winglet on the Airbus. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 121, scheduled passenger service at the time of the accident. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and instrument flight rules flight plans were filed for both airplanes. The Boeing was en route to LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York, New York, and the Airbus was en route to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD), Washington D.C.

Both airplanes were taxiing to runway 32L for takeoff. The initial taxi clearance given to both airplanes was Juliet, to Juliet-1, left on Tango to runway 32L with the Airbus following the Boeing. The crew of the Boeing reported they followed the taxi route and turned left onto Juliet-1. While on Juliet-1, they stopped short of the intersecting service road because of traffic in front of them and vehicles on the service road. Because traffic was backing up, the taxi clearance for the Airbus was amended to continue straight on Juliet, to Whiskey, to Tango, then back track on Tango, and hold short of Juliet-1. As hte Airbus continued to taxi straight on Juliet it passed behind the Boeing. It was at this time that the left winglet on Airbus contacted the underside of the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on the Boeing. Both airplanes subsequently returned to the gates and were deplaned normally.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N428UA
Reported as
Airbus A-320-200
Category
Airplane
Serial number
523
Engine
turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
United Airlines Inc, doing business as United Airlines
Registered owner
US Bank
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
ORD · Chicago, IL
Destination
IAD · Washington, DC
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ORD · O'Hare International

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N328UA
Reported as
Boeing 737-300
Category
Airplane
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
United Airlines Inc, doing business as United Airlines
Departed
ORD · Chicago, IL
Destination
LGA · New York, NY
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ORD · O'Hare International

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 4

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N428UA
Age
55
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
April 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
14,000 total · 1,600 in this make and model · 201 in the last 90 days · 99 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N428UA
Age
40
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
October 1, 2006
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
6,182 total · 3,580 in this make and model · 279 in the last 90 days · 92 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N328UA
Injuries
None
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N328UA
Injuries
None

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 5 knots
Visibility
0.75 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
300 ft
Temperature
50 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.90 inHg
Observed at
ORD

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.