VALPARAISO, IN, USA
N321UA
Boeing 737-300
While on initial descent into O'Hare International Airport, the flight crew of United 1517 received a Traffic Advisory (T/A) followed by a Resolution Advisory (R/A) from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). The flight crew reported their altitude as being about 11,500' when the T/A was received. The first radar hit on the target airplane was at 11,200'. The Captain executed an abrupt pull-up in order to avoid colliding with the other airplane. Two flight attendants were injured during the evasive maneuver. The pilot of the other airplane reported that when passing through 10,000' he noticed his Mode C transponder was not selected; at that time, he changed the selector position. Investigation of the event revealed the closest separation between the two airplanes was .1nm horizontally and 50' vertically.
On June 8, 1997, at 0917 central daylight time (cdt), a Boeing 737-300, N321UA, operated by United Airlines as flight 1517, and a Cessna 414, N414RN were involved in a near mid-air collision near Valparaiso, Indiana. Neither airplane sustained any damage. One flight attendant onboard United 1517 sustained serious head and neck injuries. Another flight attendant was treated and released from the hospital with minor injuries. The 2 flight crewmembers, another flight attendant, and 76 passengers onboard flight 1517 were not injured. The pilot and four passengers onboard N414RN were not injured. United 1517 had departed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 0758 cdt, on an IFR flight plan, en route to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. N414RN had departed Warsaw, Indiana, at approximately 0900 cdt, en route to Wichita, Kansas. N414RN was not on a flight plan nor was the pilot in contact with air traffic control when the encounter occurred. United 1517 had crossed over the Knox VOR and was cleared to descend and maintain 11,000 feet. The near mid-air occurred approximately 10 miles northwest of the Knox VOR. According to the Chicago ARTCC/Chicago TRACON Letter of Agreement, O'Hare jet traffic arriving from the southeast (Bearz Sector) is to cross the BEARZ Intersection at 11,000 feet. United 1517 was approximately 31nm southeast of the BEARZ Intersection when the near mid-air occurred. United 1517 The Captain reported in his written statement that the First Officer (F/O) was flying the airplane when the near mid-air occurred. He stated the weather was "solid IMC which began about 14,000" and that they broke out of the cloud layer between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. While descending from 12,000 feet to 11,000 feet they received a Traffic Advisory (T/A) from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). He reported he leaned forward to view the TCAS display and he saw the target "just to the right of the nose of the aircraft symbol." He reported that their altitude was 11,700 feet and the target displayed an altitude of 11,300 feet and climbing. He then told the F/O to "stop the descent or hold our altitude or words to this effect." The F/O responded by turning on the autopilot altitude hold function. The Captain reported they immediately got a Resolution Advisory (R/A) to climb. He reported that at this time their altitude was probably 11,500 feet and that the time frame between receiving the T/A and the R/A was about five seconds. The Captain continued to report that upon receiving the R/A he pulled back "firmly" on the yoke to stop the descent and "we may have even climbed a bit." He stated he pulled back for about one second, then he released the back pressure. He was not sure if he actually pushed forward on the yoke or not. He reported that the R/A warning ceased within five seconds. He reported that he and the F/O both looked out of the airplane and saw "what appeared to be a Cessna 414: white with blue trim... ." He reported that this airplane was at his 10 o'clock position, and 100 to 200 feet below them traveling southwesterly. He reported they were able to see the airplane only briefly because of a hole in the clouds and that it disappeared into the clouds within approximately two seconds. The Captain reported they then contacted Air Traffic Control to report the near collision followed by an announcement to the passengers. Shortly thereafter, the flight crew was informed by a flight attendant that both she and another flight attendant in the back of the airplane were injured during the maneuver and that they would need medical attention upon their arrival at the gate. The flight crew requested medical assistance meet them upon arrival and the flight continued to O'Hare International Airport where an uneventful landing was made. The F/O's recall of the events were virtually the same as that of the Captain. N414RN The pilot reported he departed Warsaw, Indiana, en route to Wichita, Kansas, and due to clouds along the direct route of flight, he made a climb to the west. He reported that while approaching 10,000 feet he checked his transponder for operation at which time he noticed the #2 transponder was set in the "alt" position and the selector was positioned on the #1 transponder which was OFF. He stated he switched the selector position to the #2 transponder as the airplane continued to climb through 10,000 feet. The pilot reported that at an altitude of about 11,000 feet he saw a jet passing behind his airplane at the 4-5 o'clock position. He stated the jet was about 1/2 mile away as it passed behind his airplane. INJURIES TO PERSONS Two flight attendants on United 1517 reported injuries. There were no other injuries reported by any other occupants of either airplane. It should be noted that the flight crew of United 1517 had the passenger seat belt sign on and all the passengers were seated, as they were in their arrival descent. The injured flight attendant in the back of the airplane reported that he was putting away service items in the aft galley when the near mid-air occurred. He reported, "All of a sudden, I was down on my knees then flew straight up to the ceiling hitting my head on the ceiling. I then fell against door 2R and landed on my spine. I was on the floor, turned to the left with my head facing up the aisle." This flight attendant was able to get back in his jumpseat where he remained for the rest of the flight. Upon landing, he was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with two herniated discs in his neck. Another flight attendant in the front of the airplane near the 1L door recalled floating up toward the ceiling then being "thrown from up in the air flat on my back halfway into the aisle... ." This flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was treated for back pain and bruises, and released. COMMUNICATIONS United 1517 was in contact with the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), Bearz Sector Controller when the near mid-air collision occurred. At 0914:55, United 1517 was cleared to descend and maintain 11,000 feet. At 0917:10, United 1517 transmitted, "fifteen seventeen do you have any traffic there at fourteen uh four?" At 0917:20, United 1517 transmitted "united fifteen seventeen do you see anybody at ah just behind us at four at eleven ah four?" The controller responded, "united fifteen ah yeah I do have target there now ah mode c shows eleven or twelve thousand now unverified." United 1517 replied, "well why didn't you point him out to us sir we almost hit him." The controller responded, "united fifteen seventeen ah at the time I had not been aware of the traffic he's climbing he's climbing rapidly and ah I was coordinating with another controller on something I apologize I was not aware of the traffic at the time um prior to your crossing." N414RN was not in contact with any Air Traffic Control facility at the time of the occurrence. In his written statement the Bearz Sector Controller reported he had just switched back to the 60 mile range on his radar when the pilot of United 1517 called inquiring about the traffic. He reported, "I had not observed any traffic prior to switching ranges and after his call I saw the mode C intruder for the first time passing behind him at about 300ft above him climbing based on flight paths. I saw no conflict prior to a/c having already passed. Computer data confirmed that the VFR beacon didn't appear until it was already in conflict @ 11,200 ft." METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The flight crew of United 1517 reported being in IFR conditions when the encounter occurred. The pilot of N414RN stated he was in VFR conditions when the near mid-air occurred. Cloud conditions varied at weather reporting sites surrounding the location of the near mid-air. Some of the reporting stations were reporting the following: Ft. Wayne, Indiana (79nm east-southeast) At 0856, reported 9,000' broken Midway Airport (45nm northwest) At 0853, reported few clouds at 15,000', and scattered clouds at 20,000' Gary, Indiana (27nm northeast) At 0850, reported few clouds at 3,000' and scattered clouds at 8,000' South Bend, Indiana (30nm northwest) At 0954, reported clear conditions The forecast for Indiana for the time of the accident called for the northern 1/3 of the state to have scattered clouds at 5,000' and for the southern 2/3 of the state to have occasional 1,000' to 2,000' ceilings with layered tops to FL180 with occasional cumulonimbus tops to FL300. RECORDER INFORMATION The Flight Data Recorder from United 1517 was readout by United Airlines. A printout of the recorder data shows that United 1517 was descending through a pressure altitude of 11,424', at 864 feet per minute when they received the initial T/A. The crew began to arrest the descent. Four seconds later, at a pressure altitude of 11,392', they received the first R/A. This advisory was to climb. The flight crew initiated a climb obtaining a maximum pressure altitude of 11,525'. The G load range during the maneuver varied from +2.65g's to +.56g's. TESTS AND RESEARCH On June 19, 1997, a Principal Maintenance Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, Lubbock, Texas, Flight Standards District Office witnessed a transponder, encoder, and altimeter integration test on N414RN. The inspector reported that all components performed within the parameters outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations. See attached Inspector's Statement. A TCAS Significant Event Analysis was conducted by ARINC. They reconstructed the event based on United 1517 flight crew statements, Air Traffic Control Radar Data, and Flight Data Recorder Information. ARINC's analysis of the data showed that the closest point of separation between the two aircraft was 0.1 nm horizontally and 50' vertically. See attached ARINC report for further details. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Parties to the investigation were the Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, Inc., Airlines Pilots Association, and the Association of Flight Attendants.
a delay by the pilot of the other aircraft in turning on his mode C transponder.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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