McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 N442AA

Summary

On 23 September 1991 at about 18:44 local time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 registered N442AA, operated by American Airlines, was involved in an accident near Chicago, Illinois, United States. 80 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 September 1991 at 18:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

O'hare Intl (ORD)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82

Registration

N442AA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

American Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI91LA301

Nobody was injured.

THE FLIGHT CREW'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES DURING GROUND OPERATIONS. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVERS OF THE ESCORT VEHICLE AND THE SEMI TRAILER TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING AFTER LANDING GROUND OPERATIONS, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A PARKED SEMI-TRAILER. THE SEMI HAD BEEN ESCORTED FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE ON THE AIRPORT BY A CONTRACTED ESCORT SERVICE. THE ESCORT VEHICLE LED THE SEMI ALONG THE SHOULDER OF THE TAXIWAY INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED ROUTES. THE SEMI STRUCK A CONCRETE BUMPER AND THE DRIVER STOPPED TO ASSESS POSSIBLE DAMAGE. HE ESTIMATED THE SEMI-TRAILER WAS ABOUT 100 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING MADE CONTACT. THE FLIGHT CREW REPORTED THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD ADEQUATE CLEARANCE TO TAXI PAST THE PARKED TRAILER UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.