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DCA17CA147

2017-06-30 · Chicago, Illinois, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KORD

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the A321 flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision with the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200. Contributing to the accident was traffic congestion that resulted in the CRJ200 having to stop prior to fully clearing the perpendicular taxiway.

Factual narrative

On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200. On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport.  The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged.  There were no injuries aboard either aircraft.  The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7.  Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop.  The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200.  However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Flight crew - C
  • F Environmental issues-Operating environment-Air traffic/operating proc-Traffic congestion-Effect on operation - F
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot of other aircraft - C
  • F Environmental issues-Operating environment-Air traffic/operating proc-Traffic congestion-Effect on operation - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_DCA17CA147.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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