# NTSB CHI93LA192: Aerospatiale ATR-72-212, N345AT, Chicago, IL, June 4, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1993, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.8500° N, 87.6501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chicago, IL, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8500&lon=-87.6501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 67 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15726/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA192

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND TEN MILES SOUTHEAST OF O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT 4126 ENCOUNTERED 'SEVERE VERTICAL TURBULENCE DURING CLIMB.'  A FLIGHT ATTENDANT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE DURING A FALL. THE FLIGHT DEPARTING CHICAGO O'HARE EN ROUTE TO CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS WAS ABORTED, AND THE CAPTAIN MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING AT O'HARE AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNDAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N345AT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE ATR-72-212 (ATR 72-212)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: N345AT
- Engines: P&W turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Simmons Airlines, doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner: Simmons Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Destination: CMI, CHAMPAIGN, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,160 total, 774 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD, 10 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 19930604032539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930604032539I), Jun 4, 1993: Aerosp ATR72212, Chicago, IL. Severe turbulence on climb. Returned. Landed safely. Flight attendant injured.

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.