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NTSB Report
March 8, 1989 · Short Brothers SD360 · N366MQ
Chicago, IL
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 8, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (37 uninjured)
Location
Chicago, IL
Aircraft
Short Brothers SD360
Tail Number
N366MQ
Operator
Simmons Airlines
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CHI89IA054
THE LOCAL CONTROLLER POSITIONED SIMMONS 4058 ON RWY 9L FIRST, AND THEN POSITIONED SIMMONS 4158 (THIS AIRPLANE) ON RWY 4L. HE THEN RETURNED TO SIMMONS 4058, STATED THE RWY NUMBER, & CLEARED IT FOR TAKEOFF. BEFORE SIMMONS 4058 HAD A CHANCE TO REPLY, SIMMONS 4158 (THIS AIRPLANE) ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLEARANCE. SIMMONS 4058 QUERIED THE CLEARANCE. REALIZING THE CONFUSION, AND SEEING SIMMONS 4158 (THIS AIRPLANE) MOVING, THE CONTROLLER CANCELED SIMMONS 4058 TAKEOFF CLEARANCE. SIMMONS 4058 REPLIED 'WE THOUGHT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN'. A PILOT 'SLOWDOWN' WAS TAKING PLACE AT THE TIME, AND THE CONTROLLERS STATED THAT PILOTS WERE TAXIING MORE SLOWLY THAN USUAL AND APPEARED TO GET LOST OR CONFUSED ON THE GROUND MORE OFTEN. THE CREW OF SIMMONS 4158 VEHEMENTLY DENIED PARTICIPATION IN THE UNION-RELATED WORK SLOWDOWN. THE SAFETY BOARD HAS ISSUED RECOMMENDATIONS ADDRESSING SIMILAR FLIGHT CALL SIGN CONFUSION.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE PIC FOLLOWED A CLEARANCE INTENDED FOR ANOTHER AIRPLANE.
Full Narrative
THE LOCAL CONTROLLER POSITIONED SIMMONS 4058 ON RWY 9L FIRST, AND THEN POSITIONED SIMMONS 4158 (THIS AIRPLANE) ON RWY 4L. HE THEN RETURNED TO SIMMONS 4058, STATED THE RWY NUMBER, & CLEARED IT FOR TAKEOFF. BEFORE SIMMONS 4058 HAD A CHANCE TO REPLY, SIMMONS 4158 (THIS AIRPLANE) ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLEARANCE. SIMMONS 4058 QUERIED THE CLEARANCE. REALIZING THE CONFUSION, AND SEEING SIMMONS 4158 (THIS AIRPLANE) MOVING, THE CONTROLLER CANCELED SIMMONS 4058 TAKEOFF CLEARANCE. SIMMONS 4058 REPLIED 'WE THOUGHT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN'. A PILOT 'SLOWDOWN' WAS TAKING PLACE AT THE TIME, AND THE CONTROLLERS STATED THAT PILOTS WERE TAXIING MORE SLOWLY THAN USUAL AND APPEARED TO GET LOST OR CONFUSED ON THE GROUND MORE OFTEN. THE CREW OF SIMMONS 4158 VEHEMENTLY DENIED PARTICIPATION IN THE UNION-RELATED WORK SLOWDOWN. THE SAFETY BOARD HAS ISSUED RECOMMENDATIONS ADDRESSING SIMILAR FLIGHT CALL SIGN CONFUSION.
Flight
Event TypeIncident
Event Time18:59 CST
Nearest AirportO'Hare Intl (0nm N)
Runway4L
Runway Length7500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftShort Brothers SD360
Tail NumberN366MQ
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorSimmons Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A · Turboprop
Seats36
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (37 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured37
Total37
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point21 C / 10 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:00
Weather SourceWFAC