Judge Mostly Clears Late WGN Radio Host of Fault for Plane Crash

By Thomas Hall

Published on September 30, 2007

A federal judge says Chicago radio personality Collins was only five percent at fault for the 2000 crash.

Collins and his passenger were killed when they collided with a student-pilot as they tried to land at the Waukegan Regional Airport.

The judge's opinion says the air traffic controller, who had been working seven hours without a break, contrary to FAA mandates, did not safely separate the two planes, and subsequently failed to issue a safety alert warning each pilot to abort landing.

The judge also blamed the FAA for not installing a TARDIS air control system at the Waukegan Airport, for which the airport was eligible. The TARDIS (Terminal Automated Radar Display and Information System) provides certain radar information that is reportedly helpful for safety and moving of traffic.

Federal immunity from lawsuits will prevent Collins' widow, who filed the lawsuit against the FAA, along with the other victims' families from collecting more than $1 million dollars insurance coverage from Midwest Air Traffic Control Services for which they may be eligible.

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