Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR and Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR accident near Chicago, Illinois, October 2, 2021
On October 2, 2021 at about 1:18 am local time, 2 aircraft, Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR (N142SY) and Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR (N730YX), were involved in the same accident near Chicago, Illinois (Chicago O'Hare Intl airport). No one was hurt; 53 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
A ground collision by SkyWest flight 5845 that resulted in substantial damage to Republic Airlines flight 3594.
A ground collision by SkyWest flight 5845 that resulted in substantial damage to Republic Airlines flight 3594.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2021 · about 1:18 am local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago O'Hare Intl · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 53 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, built 2015 · all ERJ 170-200 LRs on the register
- Registration
- N142SY · registry record · serial 17000475
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, built 2015 · all ERJ 170-200 LRs on the register
- Registration
- N730YX · registry record · serial 17000518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR final · quoted from the NTSB record
It was the third and last flight of the day for the crew of SkyWest flight 5845. After landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois, they taxied to Gate B21 but had to wait because the gate was occupied. After Gate B21 was cleared, and as they entered to park, their left winglet impacted the right elevator of Republic Airways flight 3594, which had just pushed back from gate B22. Gate B21 was equipped with a self-park (APIS) guidance system that illuminated green, and the SkyWest flight crew said they thought it indicated that Gate B21’s Safety Zone was clear of obstacles. SkyWest Airlines did not use ground crew to ensure obstacle clearance. The flight crew of Republic flight 3594 stated that they had just pushed back from Gate B22. The tug had disconnected, the parking brake was set, and they had started both engines, and were awaiting taxi instructions, when their airplane was impacted by SkyWest flight 5845.
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 Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR final · quoted from the NTSB record
It was the third and last flight of the day for the crew of SkyWest flight 5845. After landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois, they taxied to Gate B21 but had to wait because the gate was occupied. After Gate B21 was cleared, and as they entered to park, their left winglet impacted the right elevator of Republic Airways flight 3594, which had just pushed back from gate B22. Gate B21 was equipped with a self-park (APIS) guidance system that illuminated green, and the SkyWest flight crew said they thought it indicated that Gate B21’s Safety Zone was clear of obstacles. SkyWest Airlines did not use ground crew to ensure obstacle clearance. The flight crew of Republic flight 3594 stated that they had just pushed back from Gate B22. The tug had disconnected, the parking brake was set, and they had started both engines, and were awaiting taxi instructions, when their airplane was impacted by SkyWest flight 5845.
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 Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,209 hours in all; 4,673 in this make and model; 9,101 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,691 hours in all; 574 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 23, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 88
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skywest Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 49 |
The factual record for the Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Other
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 227 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,740 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 88
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Republic Airways INC
The flight
- Destination: BHM Birmingham AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 DCA22LA005.