CHI92LA250

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 747-300 · Chicago, IL · August 23, 1992

Accident · FatalLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 23, 1992, 12:33 local (17:33 UTC)
Place
Chicago, IL
Injuries
1 fatal, 1 serious, 277 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal, 1 serious
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Standing
Aircraft
HL746Boeing 747-300
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 30, 1993
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
15526

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

An unsafe/hazardous condition that was not identified by the vehicle driver, and an inadequate distance between the airplane and vehicle as the driver drove the vehicle behind the airplane.

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.

Propeller blast or jet exhaust/suctionStanding - engine(s) operating
Atc clearance - performedPilot in command
Inadequate trainingCompany/operator managementFactor
Unsafe/hazardous condition - not identifiedDriver of vehicleCause
Distance - inadequateDriver of vehicleCause

Analysis

The airplane, a four engined heavy jet, was directed to taxi to an active runway. The taxi route would eventually cross an active runway. Ground control directed the airplane not to cross that runway. This command was acknowledged by the aircrew. The airplane stopped and held its southerly oriented position on the north-south oriented taxiway which intersected the active runway. While the airplane was stopped, a maintenance utility truck operated by another airline came to a stop on the east side of the service road which crossed perpendicular to the taxiway the airplane was positioned on. Ground control directed the airplane to continue taxiing. As the airplane began to powerup, the service truck drove behind it. The truck was struck by the airplane's jetblast and rolled over two or three times. A review of the airport's motor vehicle operating regulations handbook and the airline's driver training program revealed the dangers of jetblast to motor vehicles were not covered.

Aircraft

Registration
HL746
Reported as
Boeing 747-300
Category
Airplane
Engine
turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 129
Operator
Korean Airlines
Registered owner
Korean Airlines
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Unknown · January 2, 2000
Departed
ORD
Destination
ANC · Anchorage, AK
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ORD · Chicago O'Hare Intl

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Certificate
Foreign
Medical
Unknown, Unknown

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 8 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ORD, 1 nm away