Chicago O'hare International A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chicago, Illinois 60018
Wednesday, July 17, 2013 8:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After the airplane was boarded, the gate agent removed the tailstand from the airplane without communicating with the flight crew. A passenger in row 3 then stood up to hand a carry-on bag to the second-in-command, who was standing in the doorway, for stowage in the cargo compartment. As the passenger stood up and stepped toward the back of the airplane, the airplane tilted backward, and its tail struck the tarmac, which resulted in substantial damage. The gate agent’s premature removal of the tailstand allowed the airplane to tilt backward when the passenger stood up and stepped toward the back of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The gate agent’s premature removal of the tailstand without confirming with the flight crew that it was safe to remove, which allowed the airplane to tilt backward when a passenger stood up and stepped toward the back of the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/17/2013
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Chicago
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60018
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415853N
Event Location Longitude 0875424W
Event Location Airport Chicago O'Hare International A
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 672
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 751 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KORD
Elevation of weather observation facility 672
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KORD 171251Z 26006KT 10SM FEW250 28/22 A3032
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 11
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32809
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2014 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N732MD
NTSB Number CEN13LA421
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 208B1083
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 10
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 10473
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MULTI-AERO INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3989 PRAIRIE DUNES DR
Aircraft Owner City SARASOTA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34238-2819
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MULTI-AERO INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Saint Louis
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 63128
Operator Code MUIA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KORD
Departure City Chicago
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KBRL
Destination City Burlington
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2014 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --