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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2021 · about 1:18 am local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago O'Hare Intl · cases near this airport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 20, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Skywest | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - Skywest Summary Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Republic Airlines | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Employee Statements Republic Captain | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Employee Statements - Republic Fo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N142SY on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175 768 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Embraer 663 aircraft on the register
- N730YX on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175 768 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Embraer 663 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Ge CF34-8E5 698 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Ge CF34-8E5 698 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Chicago O'Hare International · nearest airport
- Boise Air Trml/Gowen Field · departed from
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,069 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DCA22LA005.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.