Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chicago, Illinois
Monday, May 16, 2011 9:34 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A near-midair collision occurred between a Bombardier CRJ2 landing on runway 9R and an Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet departing from runway 32L. The CRJ2 passed 480 feet behind and 275 feet above the ERJ-145. According to the tower air traffic controller responsible for operations on runway 32L, he scanned the final approach course for runway 9R to look for conflicting traffic and saw the approaching CRJ2. However, he then forgot about the arrival and cleared the ERJ-145 for takeoff. The controller was unable to provide any explanation for the lapse. The airport was not equipped with automated assistance for detecting conflicts between departures and arrivals on crossing runways such as these.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The air traffic controller’s failure to adhere to runway separation requirements and his issuance of an improper takeoff clearance. Contributing to the incident was the controller's failure to recall that there was an arrival inbound to a crossing runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 5/16/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 934
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CHICAGO
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Chicago O’Hare International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KORD
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 672
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 851 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KORD
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KORD 161351Z 03012G21KT 10SM FEW250 09/01 A3002 RM
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 63
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30512
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2012 1:31PM
User who most recently changed record duns
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number -- --
NTSB Number OPS11IA552A OPS11IA552B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part -- --
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes Yes
Damage None None
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name EMBRAER BOMBARDIER INC
Aircraft Model EMB-145LR CL-600-2B19
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 145639 7437
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 55 55
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection -- --
Date of Last Inspection -- --
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours -- --
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type Unknown Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name -- --
Aircraft Owner Street Address 299 S MAIN ST 12TH FL 299 S MAIN ST 12TH FL
Aircraft Owner City SALT LAKE CITY SALT LAKE CITY
Aircraft Owner State UT UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84111 84111
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name -- --
Operator Same as Owner? No No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No No
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City -- --
Operator State -- --
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code -- --
Operator Code C2XA C2XA
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 -- --
Operator Certificate Number C2XA965W C2XA965W
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) -- --
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes No
Departure Airport Code KORD KMKG
Departure City CHICAGO Muskegon County
Departure State IL MI
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time -- --
Departure Time Zone CDT --
Destination Same as Local Flt -- crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KBUF KORD
Destination City Buffalo CHICAGO
Destination State NY IL
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 20 2012 9:28AM Jun 20 2012 9:38AM
User who most recently changed record kosb kosb
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32L 09R
Runway Length 9685 7967
Runway Width 200 150
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --