DCA17CA195

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 737-924ER · Los Angeles, CA · September 12, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 12, 2017, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC)
Place
Los Angeles, CA
NTSB coordinates
33.0000, -118.0000 (estimated), outside the stated state
Injuries
140 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N69813Boeing 737-924ERC-GHOZBoeing 767-375
Defining events
Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionPushback/tow-engine oper: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 5, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
FAA report
20170912019322A
Case key
96000

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 B737 flight crew's misjudgment of the clearance between their wingtip and the B767 horizontal stabilizer.

Findings · 2

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.

N69813 · Boeing 737-924ER

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crewBoeing 737-924ER: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

Boeing 767-375

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

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.

N69813 · Boeing 737-924ER

Boeing 767-375

Ground collisionPushback/tow-engine operAll aircraft: 618 casesDefining event

Analysis

On September 12, 2017, at 1310 pacific daylight time, United Airlines flight 447, a Boeing 737, N69813, collided with Air Canada flight 785, a Boeing 767, C-GHOZ, while taxiing on taxiway C near gate 69B at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Both aircraft were regularly scheduled passenger flights and there were no injuries aboard either airplane. The right winglet of the B737 had minor damage and the right horizontal stabilizer of the B767 was substantially damaged. The B767 was being marshaled onto gate 69B and was instructed to stop approximately 15 feet short of the stop line because it is normally a tow-in gate. The flight crew shut down the engines and awaited the ground crew to hook up the tow bar. There are white lines painted around each gate area to aid ground vehicles driving on the ramp. The B767 tail protruded beyond the white lines perpendicular to, and adjacent to, taxiway C. The B737 was taxiing out for departure via taxiway C in accordance with ATC instructions. The captain reported that he saw the B767 and maneuvered left of centerline for more clearance. He asked the first officer (FO), who was heads down making FMS entries, to look and verify if they had enough clearance. The FO reported he saw that the B767 was hooked up to the tug but wasn't sure if it was being towed. He judged that there was about 5 feet of clearance. He said he saw no action by the marshallers indicating they thought the airplanes were too close. As the airplane continued taxiing, the right winglet of the B737 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the B767. The flight crew reported that they did not feel an impact but were told by ATC that the collision had occurred. The B737 returned to the gate and deplaned passengers normally. The B767 was towed into the gate and deplaned passengers normally. Surveillance video from Gate 69B was obtained and captured the event. The B737 nosewheel was tracking along the yellow centerline of taxiway C.

Factual narrative

On September 12, 2017, at 1310 pacific daylight time, United Airlines flight 447, a Boeing 737, N69813, collided with Air Canada flight 785, a Boeing 767, C-GHOZ, while taxiing on taxiway C near gate 69B at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Both aircraft were regularly scheduled passenger flights and there were no injuries aboard either airplane. The right winglet of the B737 had minor damage and the right horizontal stabilizer of the B767 was substantially damaged. The B767 was being marshaled onto gate 69B and was instructed to stop approximately 15 feet short of the stop line because it is normally a tow-in gate. The flight crew shut down the engines and awaited the ground crew to hook up the tow bar. There are white lines painted around each gate area to aid ground vehicles driving on the ramp. The B767 tail protruded beyond the white lines perpendicular to, and adjacent to, taxiway C. The B737 was taxiing out for departure via taxiway C in accordance with ATC instructions. The captain reported that he saw the B767 and maneuvered left of centerline for more clearance. He asked the first officer (FO), who was heads down making FMS entries, to look and verify if they had enough clearance. The FO reported he saw that the B767 was hooked up to the tug but wasn't sure if it was being towed. He judged that there was about 5 feet of clearance. He said he saw no action by the marshallers indicating they thought the airplanes were too close. As the airplane continued taxiing, the right winglet of the B737 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the B767. The flight crew reported that they did not feel an impact but were told by ATC that the collision had occurred. The B737 returned to the gate and deplaned passengers normally. The B767 was towed into the gate and deplaned passengers normally. Surveillance video from Gate 69B was obtained and captured the event. The B737 nosewheel was tracking along the yellow centerline of taxiway C.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N69813
Reported as
Boeing 737-924ER (924)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
43531
Built
2014
Airframe hours
13,045
Engines
CFM Intl CFM56-7B27ECFM Intl CFM56-7B27E
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
United Airlines
Registered owner
United Airlines
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
August 28, 2017
Departed
LAX · Los Angeles, CA
Destination
SFO · San Francisco, CA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
LAX · Los Angeles International Airp
Equipment
Stall warning system, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display

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
C-GHOZ
Reported as
Boeing 767-375 (375)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24087
Built
1989
Airframe hours
120,691.5
Engines
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 129
Operator
Air Canada
Registered owner
Air Canada
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
August 23, 2017
Departed
CYYZ · Toronto
Destination
LAX · Los Angeles, CA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
LAX · Los Angeles International Airp
Equipment
ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator

Flight crew · 4

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N69813
Age
47
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
March 18, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
25,000 total · 2,760 in this make and model · 20,000 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N69813
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Last flight review
April 18, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
8,100 total · 1,320 in this make and model · 220 in the last 90 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft 2
Age
63
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 24, 2017
Seat
Left
Flight hours
15,343 total · 7,758 in this make and model · 7,758 as pilot in command · 186.6 in the last 90 days · 72.3 in the last 30 days · 5.8 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft 2
Age
47
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 3, 2017
Seat
Right
Flight hours
6,865 total · 3,473.5 in this make and model · 3,385 as pilot in command · 87.1 in the last 90 days · 51.3 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.0 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.