Boeing 757-33N accident near Chicago, Illinois, May 11, 2002
On May 11, 2002 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Boeing 757-33N, registered N552TZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Midway airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 92 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The ground personnel handled the aircraft improperly during pushback from the gate by failing to maintain clearance with the other parked aircraft. The light rain and the parked airplane that was contacted were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2002 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago Midway · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 92 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-33N · all 757-33Ns on the register
- Registration
- N552TZ · no longer on the register · serial 32586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses, an ATA Boeing 757 collided with a SWA Boeing 737 during pushback from the gate. The SWA 737 was parked at a gate and the ATA Boeing 757 was being pushed back from another gate. The wing walkers for the ATA Boeing 757 reported they put up the "X" when they noticed the airplane was getting too close to the parked SWA 737. The tug driver reported the he lost visual contact with the wing walkers because of the landing gear. The captain of the ATA Boeing 757 reported that after it was confirmed that the aircraft had hit the SWA Boeing 737 they were pulled back into the gate. Light rain was present at the time of the accident.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,871 hours in all; 207 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,409 hours in all; 220 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,989 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 13, 2002; 1,989 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 270,000 lb
- Seats: 258
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Trans Air
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KMDW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 7 | |||
| Passengers | 85 |
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.