- Date
- May 30, 2012, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 24 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- B16481Boeing 747N834AEEmbraer EMB 135KL
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 20120530010572A
- Case key
- 83801
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the B747 Captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance between his wing and the tail of the EMB135 that was stopped on a taxiway.
the 747 flight crew's failure to maintain a safe clearance with the EMB-135 that was stopped on a taxiway.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Boeing 747
N834AE · Embraer EMB 135KL
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Boeing 747
N834AE · Embraer EMB 135KL
Analysis
On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.
On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.
Factual narrative
On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.
On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- B16481
- Reported as
- Boeing 747 (45EF)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30607
- Airframe hours
- 57,114
- Engines
- GE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Operator
- Eva Airways Corp
- Registered owner
- Julystar 747-00 Limited
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 16, 2012
- Departed
- ORD · Chicago, IL
- Destination
- ANC · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · Chicago O’Hare International
- Registration
- N834AE
- Reported as
- Embraer EMB 135KL (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 145631
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 24,059
- Engines
- Rolls Royce CAE312447, turbo jetRolls Royce CAE311602, turbo jet
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines Inc
- Registered owner
- American Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 26, 2012
- Departed
- SGF · Springfield, MO
- Destination
- ORD · Chicago, IL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · Chicago O’Hare International
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 · 4
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 1
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 13, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,661 total · 6,244 in this make and model · 5,636 as pilot in command · 247 in the last 90 days · 93 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft 1
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 14, 2012
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 16,108 total · 7,327 in this make and model · 212 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N834AE
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 17, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,421 total · 6,171 in this make and model · 169 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N834AE
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 15, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,386 total · 201 in the last 90 days · 86 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- ORD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.