# NTSB CHI87IA109: Boeing 727-222, N7258U, Chicago, IL, April 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1987, 12:08 local (17:08 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.9769° N, 87.9081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO O'HARE INTL (ORD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9769&lon=-87.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 109 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87IA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13665/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87IA109

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Near collision between aircraft, takeoff - roll/run
  - interpretation of instructions - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 727 DOMESTIC PASSENGER FLIGHT WAS HOLDING SHORT OF RUNWAY 32L AT THE CHICAGO-O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AWAITING CLEARANCE FOR AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF. A NORTHWEST AIRLINES BOEING 747 INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER FLIGHT WAS HOLDING IN POSITION AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AWAITING TAKEOFF CLEARANCE. THE CONTROL TOWER CLEARED THE NORTHWEST FLIGHT FOR TAKEOFF AND THE CREW COMMENCED THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE UNITED FLIGHT THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF AND TAXIED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND COMMENCE THEIR GROUND ROLL. THE TOWER CONTROLLER NOTED THE INCURSION AND INSTRUCTED THE NORTHWEST FLIGHT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE UNITED FLIGHT ALSO ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND BOTH AIRCRAFT TAXIED OFF THE RUNWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7258U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7258U-2003-04-18), registration cancelled 2003-04-18, S/N 21405, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-222
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-222](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-222) (registry code 1384073) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21405
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, Chigago O'Hare Int'L, runway 32L, 13,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,000 total, 5,347 in this make and model, 152 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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