Airbus A321 231 and Bombardier INC CL 600 2B19 accident near Chicago, Illinois, July 1, 2017
On July 1, 2017 at about 2:30 am local time, 2 aircraft, Airbus A321 231 (N991AU) and Bombardier INC CL 600 2B19 (N862AS), were involved in the same accident near Chicago, Illinois (Chicago O'Hare International A airport). No one was hurt; 189 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the A321 flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision with the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200. Contributing to the accident was traffic congestion that resulted in the CRJ200 having to stop prior to fully clearing the perpendicular taxiway.
the A321 flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision with the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ700. Contributing to the accident was traffic congestion that resulted in the CRJ700 having to stop prior to fully clearing the perpendicular taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2017 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago O'Hare International A · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 189 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Airbus A321 231 231, built 2016 · all A321 231s on the register
- Registration
- N991AU · registry record · serial 7131
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Bombardier INC CL 600 2B19 100, built 2001
- Registration
- N862AS · no longer on the register · serial 7476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Airbus A321 231 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200.
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 Bombardier INC CL 600 2B19 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 30, 2017 at 2130 central daylight time, the wingtip ("sharklet") of an Airbus A321, N991AU, operated by American Airlines flight 1162, contacted the horizontal stabilizer of a Bombardier CRJ200, N862AS, operated by SkyWest Airlines d.b.a. Eagle Flight 3047, during taxi at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The A321 received minor damage and the CRJ200 was substantially damaged. There were no injuries aboard either aircraft. The CRJ200 had landed and taxied to the terminal and had been instructed by air traffic control to follow another aircraft on taxiway A7. Another aircraft ahead stopped unexpectedly and the line of traffic ending with the CRJ200, had to stop. The A321 was taxiing along taxiway A, perpendicular to A7, and maneuvered to go around the protruding tail of the CRJ200. However, the left sharklet wingtip of the A321 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ200.
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 Airbus A321 231 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Flight crew
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › Traffic congestion › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 9, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Flight time: 6,759 hours in all; 886 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 205,030 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KORD Chicago O'Hare Int'L Airpot IL at 2:30 am
- Destination: KLAX Los Angeles Int'L Airport CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 160 |
The factual record for the Bombardier INC CL 600 2B19 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › Traffic congestion › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,147 hours in all; 1,883 in this make and model; 201 in the last 90 days; 267 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 9, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,910 hours in all; 389 in this make and model; 197 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 21, 2017
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 43,100 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skywest Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KROC Rochester NY at 11:18 pm
- Destination: KORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 20 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DCA17CA147.