- Date
- June 30, 2017, 21:30 local (Jul 1, 2017, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 189 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi: Ground collisionTaxi: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report March 9, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 20170630011212A
- Case key
- 95481
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 A321 flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision with the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ700. Contributing to the accident was traffic congestion that resulted in the CRJ700 having to stop prior to fully clearing the perpendicular taxiway.
the A321 flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision with the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200. Contributing to the accident was traffic congestion that resulted in the CRJ200 having to stop prior to fully clearing the perpendicular 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.
N991AU · Airbus A321 231
N862AS · Bombardier CL 600 2B19
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.
N991AU · Airbus A321 231
N862AS · Bombardier CL 600 2B19
Analysis
On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200.
On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200.
Factual narrative
On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200.
On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N991AU
- Reported as
- Airbus A321 231 (231)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7131
- Built
- 2016
- Engines
- IAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fanIAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Registered owner
- American Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KORD · Chicago O'Hare Int'l Airpot, IL
- Destination
- KLAX · Los Angeles Int'l Airport, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- KORD · Chicago O'Hare International A
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder
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
- N862AS
- Reported as
- Bombardier CL 600 2B19 (100)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7476
- Built
- 2001
- Engines
- GE CF34 SERIES, 9,140 horsepower, turbo fanGE CF34 SERIES, 9,140 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- SkyWest Airlines
- Registered owner
- Expressjet Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KROC · Rochester, NY
- Destination
- KORD · Chicago, IL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- KORD · Chicago O'Hare International A
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 N991AU
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 9, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 5,000 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N991AU
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 17, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 6,759 total · 886 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N862AS
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Last flight review
- June 9, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 4,147 total · 1,883 in this make and model · 267 as pilot in command · 201 in the last 90 days · 5.5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N862AS
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Last flight review
- June 21, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 1,910 total · 389 in this make and model · 197 in the last 90 days · 5.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.