Learjet 60 N252RP and Embraer 145 N672AE incident near Chicago, Illinois

Probable cause

The LC-10 controller's failure to ensure the appropriate separation between two airplanes operating on runways where flight paths intersect.

NTSB analysis

On July 21, 2008, at approximately 1247 p.m. central daylight time (CDT), an incident occurred at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois, involving American Eagle flight 4298, an Embraer Regional Jet 145 (E145), and N252RP, a Learjet 60 (LJ60). According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the E145 was departing runway 32L and the LJ60 was landing runway 9R. The flight path for the arriving airplane passes over the flight path of the departing airplane from runway 32L. The ORD north local monitor for the north local controller observed the incident developing and instructed the north local controller to send the LJ60 around on runway 9R. The departing E-145 on runway 32L was instructed by the LC-10 controller to stay low on their departure.

At 2045 CDT, ORD facility management notified the Federal Aviation Administration that according to ground radar (ASDE-X) analysis and radar replay, the LJ60 passed 325 feet above and slightly behind the departing E145.

On July 22, 2008, at 1247 central daylight time, American Eagle flight 4298 (EGF298), N624AE, an Embraer Regional Jet 145 (E145), was departing runway 32 left (32L) when it conflicted with N252RP, a Learjet 60 (LJ60) landing runway 9 right (9R) at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary operational error report stated that the vertical separation between the two airplanes was approximately 200 feet. The E145 was a scheduled airline passenger flight operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121. The LJ60 was a business flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Both flights were operating on instrument flight rules flight plans. There were no injuries to the occupants and there was no damage to either airplane. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for OPS08IA011 for the full record.