Boeing B-747 and Boeing B-747 incident near Chicago, Illinois, June 20, 1983
On June 20, 1983 at about 4:29 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing B-747 (N4717U) and Boeing B-747 (N808FT), were involved in the same incident near Chicago, Illinois (O'Hare airport). No one was hurt; 440 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1983 · about 4:29 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · O'Hare
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 440 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing B-747
- Registration
- N4717U · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing B-747
- Registration
- N808FT · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing B-747 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE UNITED AIRLINES B747 WAS STANDING IN THE RUN UP AREA ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. A FLYING TIGERS B747 WAS PASSING TO HIS LEFT. THE CREW OF THE PARKED B747 OPENED THEIR OVERHEAD ESCAPE HATCH AND INDICATED TO THE TAXIING B747 WITH A THUMBS UP SIGN THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. THE TAXIING B747 THEN PROCEEDED FORWARD AND HIT THE NOSE AREA OF THE PARKED B747 WITH THEIR RIGHT WING TIP. BOTH ACFT THEN TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE UNITED AIRLINES B747 WAS STANDING IN THE RUN UP AREA ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. A FLYING TIGERS B747 WAS PASSING TO HIS LEFT. THE CREW OF THE PARKED B747 OPENED THEIR OVERHEAD ESCAPE HATCH AND INDICATED TO THE TAXIING B747 WITH A THUMBS UP SIGN THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. THE TAXIING B747 THEN PROCEEDED FORWARD AND HIT THE NOSE AREA OF THE PARKED B747 WITH THEIR RIGHT WING TIP. BOTH ACFT THEN TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 Boeing B-747 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 733,000 lb
- Seats: 427
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT9D (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:29 pm from ORD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 17 | |||
| Passengers | 410 |
The factual record for the Boeing B-747 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,606 hours in all; 1,330 in this make and model; 19 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 733,000 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT9D (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 13 |
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.