# NTSB DCA20CA046: Boeing 737, N68802, Chicago, IL, December 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 19, 2019, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.974445, -87.890556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9744&lon=-87.8906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 184 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 100734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA20CA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20CA046 ## Probable cause an abrupt stop during taxi to avoid a collision with another airplane, causing a flight attendant to fall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03010000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-924ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03010000/cases.md?model=13848A3), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03010000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-924ER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=13848A3), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Boeing 737-924ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=13848A3), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis On December 19, 2019, at approximately 1020 central standard time, United Airlines flight 2390, a B737-900ER, N68802, made an abrupt stop on the taxiway to avoid ground traffic at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. One flight attendant suffered a serious injury, and there were no injuries to the remaining 5 crewmembers and 179 passengers onboard. There was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from KORD to Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon. According to the operator, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and was given instructions from Outbound Ground Control (OGC) to taxi to runway 28R by joining taxiway A. As UAL 2390 was proceeding to taxiway A, an Embraer 175 had landed and was in communication with the Inbound Ground Control (IGC), and was also instructed to proceed to taxiway A. The UAL 2390 flight crew stated they were given no instructions to follow or give way to other airplane. As UAL 2390 approached taxiway A, the flight crew noticed the E175 approaching from behind and to the left and stopped abruptly to avoid it. During the abrupt stop, a flight attendant preparing the cabin for departure fell and sustained a serious injury. UAL 2390 returned to the gate and medical personnel met the airplane to treat the injured flight attendant. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68802](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68802), registered now, S/N 42739, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737 (924ER) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-924ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-924er) (registry code 13848A3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-series) (registry code 13078, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42739 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan; Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Airlines - Registered owner: United Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: ORD, Chicago, IL - Destination: PDX, Portland, OR - Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare Intl - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 20,003 total, 12,575 in this make and model, 12,575 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 45; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,702 total, 1,494 in this make and model, 1,494 as pilot in command, 184 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Observed at: KORD ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100734. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13629712&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20UAL%202390%20(3)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13630254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements%20-%20Flight%202390%20Dec%2019%202019%20Flight%20Attendant%20Serious%20Injury-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.