# NTSB CHI91IA144: Boeing 727-223, N6815, Chicago, IL, April 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1991, 16:45 local (21:45 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: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 119 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91IA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14929/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91IA144

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE GROUND CREW TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRPLANE IN THE GATE ALLEY DURING THE PUSH BACK FROM THE GATE.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - proper alignment - not attained, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

N6815 WAS PUSHED BACK FROM GATE H-3 INTO THE GATE ALLEY. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING TURNED OUT TO TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE ELEVATOR OF ANOTHER BOEING 727 WHICH WAS PARKED AT GATE H-1. THE FLIGHT CREW OF N6815 HAD RECEIVED A RELEASE SALUTE FROM THE GROUND CREW PRIOR TO THE TAXI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6815](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6815-2006-06-21), registration cancelled 2006-06-21, S/N 19490, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-223
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-223) (registry code 1384074) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19490
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, O'Hare

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19910425028239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910425028239I), Apr 25, 1991: Boeing 727223, Chicago, IL, Minor damage. On push back from gate by ground crew aircraft hit another parked aircraft pushed back too FAR.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.