Boeing 737-924ER and Boeing 767-375 accident near Los Angeles, California, September 12, 2017
On September 12, 2017 at about 8:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-924ER (N69813) and Boeing 767-375 (CGHOZ), were involved in the same accident near Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles International Airp airport). No one was hurt; 140 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the B737 flight crew's misjudgment of the clearance between their wingtip and the B767 horizontal stabilizer.
the B737 flight crew's misjudgment of the clearance between their wingtip and the B767 horizontal stabilizer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2017 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Los Angeles International Airp · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 140 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-924ER 924, built 2014 · all 737-924ERs on the register
- Registration
- N69813 · registry record · serial 43531
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 767-375 375, built 1989 · all 767-375s on the register
- Registration
- CGHOZ · no longer on the register · serial 24087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-924ER final · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 12, 2017, at 1310 pacific daylight time, United Airlines flight 447, a Boeing 737, N69813, collided with Air Canada flight 785, a Boeing 767, C-GHOZ, while taxiing on taxiway C near gate 69B at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Both aircraft were regularly scheduled passenger flights and there were no injuries aboard either airplane. The right winglet of the B737 had minor damage and the right horizontal stabilizer of the B767 was substantially damaged. The B767 was being marshaled onto gate 69B and was instructed to stop approximately 15 feet short of the stop line because it is normally a tow-in gate. The flight crew shut down the engines and awaited the ground crew to hook up the tow bar. There are white lines painted around each gate area to aid ground vehicles driving on the ramp. The B767 tail protruded beyond the white lines perpendicular to, and adjacent to, taxiway C. The B737 was taxiing out for departure via taxiway C in accordance with ATC instructions. The captain reported that he saw the B767 and maneuvered left of centerline for more clearance. He asked the first officer (FO), who was heads down making FMS entries, to look and verify if they had enough clearance. The FO reported he saw that the B767 was hooked up to the tug but wasn't sure if it was being towed. He judged that there was about 5 feet of clearance. He said he saw no action by the marshallers indicating they thought the airplanes were too close. As the airplane continued taxiing, the right winglet of the B737 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the B767. The flight crew reported that they did not feel an impact but were told by ATC that the collision had occurred. The B737 returned to the gate and deplaned passengers normally. The B767 was towed into the gate and deplaned passengers normally. Surveillance video from Gate 69B was obtained and captured the event. The B737 nosewheel was tracking along the yellow centerline of taxiway C.
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 767-375 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 12, 2017, at 1310 pacific daylight time, United Airlines flight 447, a Boeing 737, N69813, collided with Air Canada flight 785, a Boeing 767, C-GHOZ, while taxiing on taxiway C near gate 69B at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Both aircraft were regularly scheduled passenger flights and there were no injuries aboard either airplane. The right winglet of the B737 had minor damage and the right horizontal stabilizer of the B767 was substantially damaged. The B767 was being marshaled onto gate 69B and was instructed to stop approximately 15 feet short of the stop line because it is normally a tow-in gate. The flight crew shut down the engines and awaited the ground crew to hook up the tow bar. There are white lines painted around each gate area to aid ground vehicles driving on the ramp. The B767 tail protruded beyond the white lines perpendicular to, and adjacent to, taxiway C. The B737 was taxiing out for departure via taxiway C in accordance with ATC instructions. The captain reported that he saw the B767 and maneuvered left of centerline for more clearance. He asked the first officer (FO), who was heads down making FMS entries, to look and verify if they had enough clearance. The FO reported he saw that the B767 was hooked up to the tug but wasn't sure if it was being towed. He judged that there was about 5 feet of clearance. He said he saw no action by the marshallers indicating they thought the airplanes were too close. As the airplane continued taxiing, the right winglet of the B737 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the B767. The flight crew reported that they did not feel an impact but were told by ATC that the collision had occurred. The B737 returned to the gate and deplaned passengers normally. The B767 was towed into the gate and deplaned passengers normally. Surveillance video from Gate 69B was obtained and captured the event. The B737 nosewheel was tracking along the yellow centerline of taxiway C.
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 737-924ER from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 2,760 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 18, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 8,100 hours in all; 1,320 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 18, 2017
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,045 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, August 28, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 174,198 lb
- Seats: 187
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E; 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E; 0 hours total
- Operator: United Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Destination: SFO San Francisco CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 5 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 133 |
The factual record for the Boeing 767-375 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during pushback/tow (engine oper) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,343 hours in all; 7,758 in this make and model; 186.6 in the last 90 days; 72.3 in the last 30 days; 7,758 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 24, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,865 hours in all; 3,473.5 in this make and model; 87.1 in the last 90 days; 51.3 in the last 30 days; 3,385 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 3, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120,691.5 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, August 23, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 400,004 lb
- Seats: 223
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1:; 0 hours total
- Engine 2:; 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Canada
The flight
- Departed from: CYYZ Toronto
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.