- 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
Boeing 767-375
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
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.