O'hare International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chicago, Illinois 60666
Sunday, August 6, 2000 13:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

An ATR-42 sustained no damage during a near midair collision with a Boeing B-747 after takeoff from runway 22L at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The B-747 had been cleared for takeoff from runway 14R by the south local controller. The ATR-42 was subsequently cleared for takeoff on runway 22L by the third local control position (3LC). When the ATR-42 was rotating, the pilots observed the B-747 that was to their right, and airborne. The ATR-42 leveled off at 100 feet above ground level (agl) and the B-747 flew over the top of the ATR-42 with about 400 feet of vertical separation. Once the B-747 had passed, the ATR-42 resumed the climb and continued en route to it destination. The flightcrew of the B-747 did not observe the ATR-42; nor did they receive an alert from the tower. The B-747 continued en route to its destination. The incident was classified by the air traffic control facility as an operational error. Following the incident, the facility developed new coordination measures between the air traffic controllers in the tower.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the improper takeoff clearance issued by the local controller.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/6/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CHICAGO
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60666
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport O'HARE INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ORD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 668
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ORD
Elevation of weather observation facility 668
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 84
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 70
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 363
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11131
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1254
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2003 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N269AE N119UA
NTSB Number CHI00IA248A CHI00IA248B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage None None
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aerospatiale Boeing
Aircraft Model ATR-42-2000 B-747-422
Aircraft Series Identifier ATR-42-200 B-747-422
Aircraft Serial Number 269
Certified Max Gross Weight 37258 0
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 49 --
Number of Engines 2 4
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jul 26 2000 12:00AM --
Airframe hours since last inspection 336 --
Airframe Hours 17993 --
ELT Installed Yes Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name ELISA BAIL G.I.E. UNITED AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 66100
Aircraft Owner City FRANCE CHICAGO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60666
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Street Address 4333 AMON CARTER BLVD
Operator City FT. WORTH
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76155
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown Unknown
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code ORD ORD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1241 1258
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code BMI
Destination City BLOOMINGTON HONG KONG
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2003 10:33AM Sep 23 2001 4:00AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22L 14R
Runway Length 8071 13000
Runway Width 150 200
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --