Chicago - San Francisco

On March 21, 1968 at 03:53 AM, Chicago - San Francisco experienced a crash involving Boeing 727-100, operated by United Airlines, with the event recorded near Chicago-O'Hare Illinois.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The takeoff warning horn sounded shortly after commencing takeoff from runway 09R. The takeoff was continued as the crew tried to figure out what caused the warning. The horn ceased prior to reaching rotate speed. The stick shaker came on and thrust was added, but the aircraft failed to climb and the captain elected to discontinue the takeoff. The 727 settled back to the macadam shoulder off the right side of the runway and struck a ditch, coming to rest 1,100 feet beyond the runway end and 300 feet right of the extended centreline. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three crew members were injured. The flaps had been set at 2° instead of takeoff range of 5°-25°.

Aircraft reference details include registration N7425U, MSN 19200/416, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 41.9828°, -87.8434°.