Bombardier CL-600 and Boeing 727-214 accident near New York, New York, October 24, 2000
On October 24, 2000 at about 1:20 am local time, 2 aircraft, Bombardier CL-600 (N804CA) and Boeing 727-214 (N786AT), were involved in the same accident near New York, New York (La Guardia airport). No one was hurt; 81 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Boeing captain's misjudgment of the distance between his airplane and the CRJ. A factor was the nighttime conditions.
The Boeing captain's misjudgment of the distance between his airplane and the CRJ. A factor was the nighttime conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2000 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- New York, New York · La Guardia · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 81 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bombardier CL-600 · all CL-600s on the register
- Registration
- N804CA · registry record · serial 7352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 727-214 · all 727-214s on the register
- Registration
- N786AT · no longer on the register · serial 21692
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bombardier CL-600 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Bombardier CL-600 Regional Jet (CRJ) was stopped in an area where the taxiway split in two. The parking brake was set, and the crew was waiting for airplanes ahead to move forward, along one of the taxiways. A Boeing 727 attempted to pass obliquely behind the CRJ, on the other taxiway. The Boeing captain was aware the CRJ's location, and believed he had adequate clearance. However, while proceeding, on taxiway centerline, the Boeing crew felt a slight bump. They believed it was a seam in the concrete, but then heard the CRJ crew report the impact over the radio. The Boeing's left wing had struck the CRJ's right winglet, from aft, forward. The accident occurred at night.
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 727-214 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Bombardier CL-600 Regional Jet (CRJ) was parked where two taxiways split. The parking brake was set, and the crew was waiting for airplanes ahead to move forward, along one of the taxiways. A Boeing 727 attempted to pass obliquely behind the CRJ, on the other taxiway. The Boeing captain was aware the CRJ's location, and believed he had adequate clearance. However, while proceeding, on taxiway centerline, the Boeing crew felt a slight bump. They believed it was a seam in the concrete, but then heard the CRJ crew report the impact over the radio. The Boeing's left wing had struck the CRJ's right winglet, from aft, forward. The accident occurred at night.
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 Bombardier CL-600 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,362 hours in all; 1,794 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 53,000 lb
- Seats: 53
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CF34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGA
- Destination: CVG Covington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 36 |
The factual record for the Boeing 727-214 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 8,300 hours in all; 2,479 in this make and model; 156 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56,593 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 19, 2000; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 195,500 lb
- Seats: 180
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-17 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Trans Air
The flight
- Departed from: LGA
- Destination: MDW Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 7 | |||
| Passengers | 35 |
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.