- Date
- September 11, 2019, 11:43 local (16:43 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago OHare, IL
- Injuries
- 114 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Pushback/towing
- Defining events
- Pushback/towing: Ground handling eventTaxi-to runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA reports
- 20190911008612I20190911008622I
- Case key
- 101376
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 tug driver's inability to maintain visual contact with the wing walkers and lack of situational awareness during pushback.
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.
N710SK · Bombardier CL 600 2C10
N765SK · Bombardier CL 600 2C10
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.
N710SK · Bombardier CL 600 2C10
N765SK · Bombardier CL 600 2C10
Analysis
On September 11, 2019, about 1143 CDT, SkyWest flight 3019, a CRJ700, N710SK, collided with SkyWest flight 3039, a CRJ700, N765SK, during pushback at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. There were no injuries to the passengers and crew onboard either airplane. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Both flights were operating as 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled passenger flights. Flight 3019 was scheduled from ORD to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan, and flight 3039 was scheduled from ORD to Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), Middletown, Pennsylvania. SkyWest 3019 was cleared to push back from gate G19A, with the assistance of a tug driver and two wing walkers. The tug driver indicated he performed a walk around prior to the push back and did not notice any airplane behind flight 3019. The wing walkers were positioned with one walker on each side of the airplane. Both wing walkers stated they were aware another airplane was behind SkyWest 3019, but initially believed that the stopped airplane would clear the area before the accident airplane was fully pushed back. The tug driver started to push flight 3019 without getting the “all clear” signal from both wing walkers. The tug driver also stated he could not see the captain’s side wing walker during a portion of the push and was focused on where the landing gear was proceeding, rather than viewing the surrounding area and his wing walkers. The captain's side wing walker said he tried to get the drivers attention, telling him to stop (the tug driver had a headset on to communicate with the flight crew), and had to eventually approach the tug driver to get his attention. The FO's side wing walker said she gave the emergency stop "X" sign to the tug driver, but it appeared that tug driver didn't see it. The driver was unaware of any problems until the captain's side wing walker approached him and told him to stop. SkyWest 3039 had pushed back from gate H1A and transitioned to the H alleyway and waiting for clearance to taxi onto the West Line (behind flight 3019). While stopped, the captain stated that the airplane shook, but that he thought it was only jet blast from another airplane. He then received clearance to take the West Line, but as he taxied out of the alleyway, he was notified of the collision. Post-accident examination revealed the left horizontal and vertical stabilizers of SkyWest 3019 and the tail cone and left elevator of SkyWest 3039 were substantially damaged.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N710SK
- Reported as
- Bombardier CL 600 2C10 (700)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10170
- Built
- 2004
- Airframe hours
- 41,268
- Engines
- GE CF34-8C5B1, turbo fanGE CF34-8C5B1, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- SkyWest Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wells Fargo Trust Co Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- September 9, 2019
- Departed
- KORD · Chicago, IL
- Destination
- LDTW · Detroit, MI
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare Intl
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, 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
- N765SK
- Reported as
- Bombardier CL 600 2C10 (700)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10231
- Built
- 2005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- SkyWest Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wells Fargo Trust Co Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KORD · Chicago, IL
- Destination
- KMDT · Harrisburg, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare Intl
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 N710SK
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 12, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 7,796 total · 2,740 in this make and model · 2,649 as pilot in command · 207 in the last 90 days · 86 in the last 30 days · 4.5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N710SK
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 1,256 total · 564 in this make and model · 206 in the last 90 days · 77 in the last 30 days · 4.5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N765SK
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 29, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 2,029 total · 1,265 in this make and model · 213 as pilot in command · 186 in the last 90 days · 52 in the last 30 days · 2.4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N765SK
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- January 15, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 503 total · 192 in this make and model · 234 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 2.4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.