Boeing 757-33N N552TZ

Summary

On 11 May 2002 at about 23:45 local time, a Boeing 757-33N registered N552TZ, operated by American Trans Air, was involved in an accident near Chicago, Illinois, United States. 92 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 May 2002 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Chicago Midway (MDW)

Coordinates

41.7858, -87.7522

Aircraft

Boeing 757-33N

Registration

N552TZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

American Trans Air

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chicago → Phoenix

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI02LA128

Nobody was injured.

The ground personnel handled the aircraft improperly during pushback from the gate by failing to maintain clearance with the other parked aircraft. The light rain and the parked airplane that was contacted were factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses, an ATA Boeing 757 collided with a SWA Boeing 737 during pushback from the gate. The SWA 737 was parked at a gate and the ATA Boeing 757 was being pushed back from another gate. The wing walkers for the ATA Boeing 757 reported they put up the "X" when they noticed the airplane was getting too close to the parked SWA 737. The tug driver reported the he lost visual contact with the wing walkers because of the landing gear. The captain of the ATA Boeing 757 reported that after it was confirmed that the aircraft had hit the SWA Boeing 737 they were pulled back into the gate. Light rain was present at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.