Incident Overview
At Chicago O'Hare International Airport, an American Airlines Boeing 767-323 operating as Flight 80 collided with a stationary American Airlines Boeing 767-223, registration N328AA. Both aircraft sustained minor wing damage. N328AA was being repositioned by two mechanics from gate M-3 at the International Terminal to the domestic side of the airport.
Details of Collision
N328AA had received a pushback clearance from the Inbound Ground Controller and was pushed back onto the ramp facing north, awaiting traffic clearance before taxiing. Flight 80 was cleared by the Ground Metering Controller from gate K-19 to Runway 32R via the Bravo Taxiway. As Flight 80 taxied north on Bravo, its right wing contacted the left wing of N328AA. The flight crew reported seeing N328AA but did not consider it a factor.
The left wing of N328AA and the right wing of Flight 80 were both overhanging a green-painted 'grass' area on the ramp at the time of collision. The fuselage of N328AA was on the movement side of the nonmovement area, and its left main landing gear was on the taxiway centerline. Flight 80 was facing north on the Bravo Taxiway with its nose gear approximately three feet left of the taxiway centerline.
Ramp Operations and Clearances
A 1993 letter regarding ramp control guidelines stated: 'Due to the close proximity of the International gate positions M1-M3 to the Outer Taxiway [Bravo], only O'Hare ATCT [Air Traffic Control Tower] will issue clearance to and from these gate positions.' O'Hare ATCT personnel reported that although they provide pushback clearances from gate M-3, they do not prevent other traffic from using taxiway Bravo during a pushback, as they do for pushbacks from gates M-1 and M-2.
Inspection of the international ramp area and interviews with ramp personnel revealed insufficient ramp space to push back from gate M-3 while remaining clear of the movement area, cross taxiways, and vehicle traffic lanes.