ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 N954N Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD)

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Accident description

Last updated: 23 May 2013

Status:	Final
Date:	20 DEC 1972
Time:	18:00 CST
Type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Operator:	North Central Airlines
Registration:	N954N
C/n / msn:	47159/231
First flight:	1968
Total airframe hrs:	11812
Engines:	2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7
Crew:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Passengers:	Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 41
Total:	Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 45
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD) (United States of America)
Phase:	Takeoff (TOF)
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD), United States of America
Destination airport:	Madison Regional Airport, WI (MSN/KMSN), United States of America
Flightnumber:	575

Narrative:
A Delta Air Lines Convair CV-880 (N8807E) taxied across runway 27L in bad weather (250 feet visibility in fog, indefinite ceiling at 200 feet). At the same time, a North Central DC-9 (N954N) took off from runway 27L. Both aircraft collided.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the air traffic control system to ensure separation of aircraft during a period of restricted visibility. This failure included the following: (1) the controller omitted a critical word which made his transmission to the flight crew of the Delta CV-880 ambiguous; (2) the controller did not use all the available information to determine the location of the CV-880; and (3) the CV-880 flight crew did not request clarification of the controller's communications"

Sources:
» ICAO Circular 132-AN/93 (27-36)
» NTSB/AAR-73/15

Official accident investigation report

investigating agency:	National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB) - USA
report status:	Final
report number:	NTSB/AAR-73-15
report released:	05-JUL-1973
duration of investigation:	197 days (6.6 months)
download report:	North Central Airlines, Inc., McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, N954N and Delta Air Lines, Inc., Convair CV-880, N8807E, O'Hare Intl Arpt. Chicago, IL 12-20-72 (NTSB/AAR-73-15)

Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 9 Safety Recommendations

Issued: 17-MAY-1973	To:	A-73-021
STANDARDIZE CONFIGURATIONS, ALIGNMENT TECHNIQUES, AND EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS AT THE THREE EXISTING ASDE "BRITE" FACILITIES IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THAT EQUIPMENT. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 17-MAY-1973	To:	A-73-022
NOT PROCEED WITH THE SCHEDULED INSTALLATION OF "BRITE" DISPLAYS AT OTHER ASDE-EQUIPPED FACILITIES WHICH NOW USE THE DIRECT VIEW RADAR DISPLAY UNTIL SATISFACTORY OPERATION OF "BRITE" EQUIPMENT IS ACHIEVED AT THE THREE FACILITIES WHERE IT IS NOW INSTALLED. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 17-MAY-1973	To:	A-73-023
CONTINGENT UPON FAVORABLE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION OF THE NEW MODEL ASDE "BRITE" DISPLAY CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER, INSTALL THAT EQUIPMENT FIRST AT THE THREE LOCATIONS WHERE "BRITE" EQUIPMENT IS NOW USED. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 17-MAY-1973	To:	A-73-024
ESTABLISH STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR THE USE OF ASDE RADAR, AND PUBLISH SUCH PROCEDURES IN APPROPRIATE AIR TRAFFIC HANDBOOKS. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 17-MAY-1973	To:	A-73-025
ESTABLISH AND PUBLISH TAXI ROUTES FOR ARRIVING AND DEPARTING AIRCRAFT TO BE USED DURING PERIODS OF RESTRICTED VISIBILITY ON THE ORDER OF 1/2 MILE. (Closed - Unacceptable Action)
Issued: 17-MAY-1973	To:	A-73-026
REQUIRE PILOTS TO OBTAIN THE CONTROLLERS\' APPROVAL BEFORE CROSSING ALIGHTED RUNWAY DURING PERIODS OF RESTRICTED VISIBILITY ON THE ORDER OF 1/2 MILE. (Closed - Unacceptable Action)
Issued: 10-AUG-1973	To:	A-73-053
AMEND THE EXISTING CERTIFICATION AND OPERATING RULES FOR AIR CARRIER AND AIR TAXI AIRCRAFT TO INCLUDE PROVISIONS REQUIRING TACTILE GUIDANCE AND IMPROVED VISUAL GUIDANCE TO EMERGENCY EXITS, AS WELL AS MORE EFFICIENT METHODS OF INDICATING THE LOCATION OF EMERGENCY EXITS IN A DARK OR SMOKE ENVIRONMENT. (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action)
Issued: 10-AUG-1973	To:	A-73-054
REQUIRE FLIGHT CREWS TO REPORT THEIR AIRCRAFT POSITION ON THE AIRPORT WHEN ESTABLISHING RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH CONTROLLERS, AND REQUIRE THE CONTROLLERS TO READ BACK THE REPORTED AIRCRAFT POSITION WHEN IT CANNOT BE VERIFIED EITHER VISUALLY OR BY MEANS OF RADAR. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 10-AUG-1973	To:	A-73-055
REQUIRE FLIGHTCREWS TO READ BACK TAXI CLEARANCES WHEN OPERATING IN VISIBILITIES OF LESS THAN ONE-HALF MILE. (Closed - Unacceptable Action)

Show all AD's and Safety Recommendations

Photos

Map

This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL to Madison Regional Airport, WI as the crow flies is 173 km (108 miles).

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