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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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October 29, 1987 · Boeing 737-322 · N305UA

Chicago, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 29, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (147 uninjured)
Location
Chicago, IL
Aircraft
Boeing 737-322
Tail Number
N305UA
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CHI88IA015

THE SOUTH RWYS (32L, 9R, & 4R) WERE BEING CTLD BY THE SOUTH LCL CTLR (SLC) & THE NORTH RWYS (9L & 4L) WERE CTLD BY THE NORTH LCL CTLR (NLC). AT 1543:26, SLC TOLD UNITED FLT 973 (BOEING 737) TO HOLD ON 32L & EXPECT A 3 MIN DELAY BFR TKOF. AIR WISCONSIN FLT 954 (FOKKER F27) HAD BGN A VISUAL APCH TO 9R. AT 1545:23, AFTER COORDG WITH NLC, SLC CLRD THE F27 TO CIRCLE (SIDE STEP) FOR A LNDG ON RWY 9L & CHG FREQ TO NLC. THE FINAL APCH PATH (EXTD CTRLN OF 9L) CROSSED OVR RWY 32L. AT 1546:53, SLC CLRD THE 737 TO TKOF. AT APRX V1 (133 KTS), THE 737 PLTS SAW THE F27 CONVERGING, AS IT WAS ABT TO CROSS THEIR INTENDED TKOF PATH. THE F27 CREW DID NOT SEE THE 737. THE 737 CAPT DID NOT THINK HE COULD SAFELY CROSS UNDER THE F27 OR ABORT THE TKOF. HE ELECTED TO AVOID THE F27 BY CLBG OVER THE OTR ACFT RATHER THAN PASSING UNDER IT. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE TWR PROCEDURE WAS CHGD SO THAT NO TKOF CLNC WOULD BE ISSUED TO A DEPG FLT ON RWY 32L UNTIL ARRIVING ACFT, CLRD TO LND ON RWY 9L, HAD REACHED THE THRESHOLD OF THAT RWY.

Full Narrative

THE SOUTH RWYS (32L, 9R, & 4R) WERE BEING CTLD BY THE SOUTH LCL CTLR (SLC) & THE NORTH RWYS (9L & 4L) WERE CTLD BY THE NORTH LCL CTLR (NLC). AT 1543:26, SLC TOLD UNITED FLT 973 (BOEING 737) TO HOLD ON 32L & EXPECT A 3 MIN DELAY BFR TKOF. AIR WISCONSIN FLT 954 (FOKKER F27) HAD BGN A VISUAL APCH TO 9R. AT 1545:23, AFTER COORDG WITH NLC, SLC CLRD THE F27 TO CIRCLE (SIDE STEP) FOR A LNDG ON RWY 9L & CHG FREQ TO NLC. THE FINAL APCH PATH (EXTD CTRLN OF 9L) CROSSED OVR RWY 32L. AT 1546:53, SLC CLRD THE 737 TO TKOF. AT APRX V1 (133 KTS), THE 737 PLTS SAW THE F27 CONVERGING, AS IT WAS ABT TO CROSS THEIR INTENDED TKOF PATH. THE F27 CREW DID NOT SEE THE 737. THE 737 CAPT DID NOT THINK HE COULD SAFELY CROSS UNDER THE F27 OR ABORT THE TKOF. HE ELECTED TO AVOID THE F27 BY CLBG OVER THE OTR ACFT RATHER THAN PASSING UNDER IT. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE TWR PROCEDURE WAS CHGD SO THAT NO TKOF CLNC WOULD BE ISSUED TO A DEPG FLT ON RWY 32L UNTIL ARRIVING ACFT, CLRD TO LND ON RWY 9L, HAD REACHED THE THRESHOLD OF THAT RWY.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time15:47 CST
Nearest AirportChicago O'Hare (0nm N)
Runway32L
Runway Length13000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 737-322
Tail NumberN305UA
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGe · CFM56-3 · Turbofan · 20000 | Rolls-Royce · DART 536 · Turboprop · 2100
Seats149

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (147 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured147
Total147
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class
Crew 2Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 7 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:25
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data