- Date
- August 31, 1989, 00:53 local (05:53 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 14290
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the controller to clarify the confusing communications, to correct the pilot's misinterpretation of the instructions being given, and the failure of the supervisor to properly monitor the situation. Factors related to the incident were the pilot's misinterpretation of the clearance, the controllers expectancy and aural perception of the communications.
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.
Analysis
GLA268 (Beech E33, N7135N) was cleared for takeoff on rwy 27L from the branch intersection by a full performance level (fpl) controller. AA9168 (MD-80, N490AA), which had been cleared to rwy 27L by a developmental controller under the supervision of the fpl controller, twice acknowledged the takeoff clearance for GLA268. GLA268 was again given takeoff clearance by the fpl controller. At about the same time AA9168 initiated its takeoff roll from the end of the rwy. AA9168 saw GLA268 ahead of it and queried the developmental controller. At this point the fpl controller took over and instructed AA9168 to abort its takeoff. The pilot of GLA268 reported he was about 50 ft AGL when he heard AA9168 aborting the takeoff.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N490AA
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Unknown UNKNOWN, turbo jet
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Destination
- CMH · Columbus, OH
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · O'Hare Intl, runway 27L, 10,141 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- N7135N
- Reported as
- Beech E33
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CD1139
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-B1, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Great Lakes Aviation
- Destination
- SPW · Spencer, IA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- ORD · O'Hare Intl, runway 27L, 10,141 × 150 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N490AA
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N7135N
- Age
- 24
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,521 total · 107 in this make and model · 1,558 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 92 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Observed at
- ORD