Flight attendant injured while flight crew evades a 'phantom' aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	162396
Time
Date	199011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 2600
ASRS Report	162396
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	162399
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was returning from mexico city for landing at chicago O'hare. Departing 4000' I (the F/east) noticed two bright lights that appeared to be rapidly closing on us. I called out 'traffic at 10 O'clock' and both pilots confirmed. The captain began an immediate evasive action with a sudden climbing turn. Then we all realized it was actually 2 aircraft many mi away. Because of their relative position and our flight path, it gave the illusion of one aircraft rapidly closing and turning into us. During the pull up one F/a injured her nose by falling in the galley. No other injuries we reported.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ATTENDANT INJURED WHILE FLC EVADES A 'PHANTOM' ACFT.

Narrative: FLT WAS RETURNING FROM MEXICO CITY FOR LNDG AT CHICAGO O'HARE. DEPARTING 4000' I (THE F/E) NOTICED TWO BRIGHT LIGHTS THAT APPEARED TO BE RAPIDLY CLOSING ON US. I CALLED OUT 'TFC AT 10 O'CLOCK' AND BOTH PLTS CONFIRMED. THE CAPT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION WITH A SUDDEN CLBING TURN. THEN WE ALL REALIZED IT WAS ACTUALLY 2 ACFT MANY MI AWAY. BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIVE POS AND OUR FLT PATH, IT GAVE THE ILLUSION OF ONE ACFT RAPIDLY CLOSING AND TURNING INTO US. DURING THE PULL UP ONE F/A INJURED HER NOSE BY FALLING IN THE GALLEY. NO OTHER INJURIES WE RPTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.