Boeing 737-924ER N69813 accident near Los Angeles, California

Probable cause

the B737 flight crew's misjudgment of the clearance between their wingtip and the B767 horizontal stabilizer.

NTSB analysis

On September 12, 2017, at 1310 pacific daylight time, United Airlines flight 447, a Boeing 737, N69813, collided with Air Canada flight 785, a Boeing 767, C-GHOZ, while taxiing on taxiway C near gate 69B at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Both aircraft were regularly scheduled passenger flights and there were no injuries aboard either airplane. The right winglet of the B737 had minor damage and the right horizontal stabilizer of the B767 was substantially damaged.

The B767 was being marshaled onto gate 69B and was instructed to stop approximately 15 feet short of the stop line because it is normally a tow-in gate. The flight crew shut down the engines and awaited the ground crew to hook up the tow bar. There are white lines painted around each gate area to aid ground vehicles driving on the ramp. The B767 tail protruded beyond the white lines perpendicular to, and adjacent to, taxiway C.

The B737 was taxiing out for departure via taxiway C in accordance with ATC instructions. The captain reported that he saw the B767 and maneuvered left of centerline for more clearance. He asked the first officer (FO), who was heads down making FMS entries, to look and verify if they had enough clearance. The FO reported he saw that the B767 was hooked up to the tug but wasn't sure if it was being towed. He judged that there was about 5 feet of clearance. He said he saw no action by the marshallers indicating they thought the airplanes were too close.

As the airplane continued taxiing, the right winglet of the B737 contacted the horizontal stabilizer of the B767. The flight crew reported that they did not feel an impact but were told by ATC that the collision had occurred. The B737 returned to the gate and deplaned passengers normally. The B767 was towed into the gate and deplaned passengers normally.

Surveillance video from Gate 69B was obtained and captured the event. The B737 nosewheel was tracking along the yellow centerline of taxiway C.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA17CA195 for the full record.