Boeing 757-232 accident near Fairfield, Illinois, June 2, 2002
On June 2, 2002 at about 5:27 pm local time, a Boeing 757-232, registered N694DL, was involved in an accident near Fairfield, Illinois. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 113 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The first officer's abrupt level off.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2002 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 113 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-232 · all 757-232s on the register
- Registration
- N694DL · registry record · serial 29726
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain reported that during a descent in IMC conditions, the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) sounded "traffic, traffic, traffic." The TCAS displayed a target 700 feet below, and 15 miles ahead of the flight. However, the TCAS did not issue a resolution advisory. The flight crew could not visually identify the traffic, and the captain instructed the first officer to stop the descent. The first officer disconnected the autopilot and then "quickly" leveled the airplane. During the level off, a flight attendant fell and suffered a fractured leg. Subsequently, a review of the TCAS and check with ATC revealed that the traffic was at FL 260, not FL 270. A review of the airline's operations manual revealed that deviation from an ATC clearance was authorized for a resolution advisory.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 2,204 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,923 hours in all; 1,275 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 13, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,206 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 29, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 232,000 lb
- Seats: 115
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Fairfield IL at 3:15 pm
- Destination: CVG Covington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from ENL, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Passengers | 108 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N694DL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.