Aerospatiale ATR-42-2000 and Boeing B-747-422 incident near Chicago, Illinois, August 6, 2000
On August 6, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aerospatiale ATR-42-2000 (N269AE) and Boeing B-747-422 (N119UA), were involved in the same incident near Chicago, Illinois (O'Hare International airport). No one was hurt; 363 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper takeoff clearance issued by the local controller.
the improper takeoff clearance issued by the local controller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · O'Hare International
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 363 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aerospatiale ATR-42-2000 ATR-42-200
- Registration
- N269AE · registry record · serial 269
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing B-747-422
- Registration
- N119UA · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Aerospatiale ATR-42-2000 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An ATR-42 sustained no damage during a near midair collision with a Boeing B-747 after takeoff from runway 22L at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The B-747 had been cleared for takeoff from runway 14R by the south local controller. The ATR-42 was subsequently cleared for takeoff on runway 22L by the third local control position (3LC). When the ATR-42 was rotating, the pilots observed the B-747 that was to their right, and airborne. The ATR-42 leveled off at 100 feet above ground level (agl) and the B-747 flew over the top of the ATR-42 with about 400 feet of vertical separation. Once the B-747 had passed, the ATR-42 resumed the climb and continued en route to it destination. The flightcrew of the B-747 did not observe the ATR-42; nor did they receive an alert from the tower. The B-747 continued en route to its destination. The incident was classified by the air traffic control facility as an operational error. Following the incident, the facility developed new coordination measures between the air traffic controllers in the tower.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing B-747-422 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An ATR-42 sustained no damage during a near midair collision with a Boeing B-747 after takeoff from runway 22L at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The B-747 had been cleared for takeoff from runway 14R by the south local controller. The ATR-42 was subsequently cleared for takeoff on runway 22L by the third local control position (3LC). When the ATR-42 was rotating, the pilots observed the B-747 that was to their right, and airborne. The ATR-42 leveled off at 100 feet above ground level (agl) and the B-747 flew over the top of the ATR-42 with about 200 feet of vertical separation. Once the B-747 had passed, the ATR-42 resumed the climb and continued en route to it destination. The flightcrew of the B-747 did not observe the ATR-42; nor did they receive an alert from the tower. The B-747 continued en route to its destination. The incident was classified by the air traffic control facility as an operational error. Following the incident, the facility developed new coordination measures between the air traffic controllers in the tower.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Aerospatiale ATR-42-2000 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,600 hours in all; 5,432 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,993 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 26, 2000; 336 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 37,258 lb
- Seats: 49
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW-120 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Eagle Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: ORD at 5:41 pm
- Destination: BMI Bloomington IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22L, 8,071 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 183°F (84°C), dew point 158°F (70°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from ORD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 46 |
The factual record for the Boeing B-747-422 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORD at 5:58 pm
- Destination: Hong Kong
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14R, 13,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 22 | |||
| Passengers | 292 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.