# NTSB DCA86AA041: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Cerritos, CA, August 31, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Final report - Date: August 31, 1986, 11:52 local (18:52 UTC) - Place: Cerritos, CA - Coordinates: 33.86061, -118.080955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8606&lon=-118.0810&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 82 fatal, 8 minor; on the ground: 15 fatal, 8 minor - Status: Completed, report March 7, 1988 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15857 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA86AA041.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15857/pdf - Board report AAR8707 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8707.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA041 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, descent - normal - radar,approach/departure - inadequate (cause) - identification of aircraft on radar - not attained (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, faa(other/organization) (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - unsafe/hazardous condition - inadvertent, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - radar,approach/departure - inadequate (cause) - identification of aircraft on radar - not attained (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, faa(other/organization) (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - unsafe/hazardous condition - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-87/07. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm AT APRX 1140 PDT, A PIPER PA-28, N4891F, DEPARTED TORRANCE, CA ON A VFR FLT TO BIG BEAR, CA. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT TURNED EASTBOUND TWD THE PARADISE VORTAC WITH HIS X-PONDER SQUAWKING 1200. AT THAT TIME, AEROMEXICO FLT 498 (DC-8, MEX REGISTRY XA-JED) WAS ON ARRIIVAL, RCVG NORTHBOUND VECTORS FM LAX APCH CTL (AR-1 CTLR) FOR AN ILS APCH TO THE LAX INTL ARPT. AT 1151:04, THE CTLR ASKED FLT 498 TO RDC SPD TO 190 KTS & DSCND FM 7000' TO 6000'. DRG THIS TIME, THE CTLR WAS CTLG OTR TRAFFIC & PROVIDING RADAR ADVISORIES, BUT DIDN'T SEE A DISPLAY FOR N4891F ON HIS SCOPE. AT 1152:09, N4891F & FLT 498 CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT APRX 6560', THEN FELL TO THE GND. AN INV REVEALED N4891F HAD INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE LAX TERMINAL CONTROL AREA (TCA) & WASN'T IN RADIO CONTACT WITH ATC. LAX TRACON WASN'T EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTO CONFLICT ALERT SYS & THE ANALOG BEACON RESPONSE FM N4891F'S X-PONDER WASN'T DISPLAYED DUE TO EQUIP CONFIGURATION. N4891F'S PSN WAS DISPLAYED BY AN ALPHANUMERIC TRIANGLE, BUT THE PRIMARY TARGET WASN'T DISPLAYED DUE TO AN ATMOSPHERIC INVERSION. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-87/07. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm AT APRX 1140 PDT, A PIPER PA-28, N4891F, DEPARTED TORRANCE, CA ON A VFR FLT TO BIG BEAR, CA. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT TURNED EASTBOUND TWD THE PARADISE VORTAC WITH HIS X-PONDER SQUAWKING 1200. AT THAT TIME, AEROMEXICO FLT 498 (DC-8, MEX REGISTRY XA-JED) WAS ON ARRIVAL, RCVG NORTHBOUND VECTORS FM LAX APCH CTL (AR-1 CTLR) FOR AN ILS APCH TO THE LAX INTL ARPT. AT 1151:04, THE CTLR ASKED FLT 498 TO RDC SPD TO 190 KTS & DSCND FM 7000' TO 6000'. DRG THIS TIME, THE CTLR WAS CTLG OTR TRAFFIC & PROVIDING RADAR ADVISORIES, BUT DIDN'T SEE A DISPLAY FOR N4891F ON HIS SCOPE. AT 1152:09, N4891F & FLT 498 CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT APRX 6560', THEN FELL TO THE GND. AN INV REVEALED N4891F HAD INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE LAX TERMINAL CONTROL AREA (TCA) & WASN'T IN RADIO CONTACT WITH ATC. LAX TRACON WASN'T EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTO CONFLICT ALERT SYS & THE ANALOG BEACON RESPONSE FM N4891F'S X-PONDER WASN'T DISPLAYED DUE TO EQUIP CONFIGURATION. N4891F'S PSN WAS DISPLAYED BY AN ALPHANUMERIC TRIANGLE, BUT THE PRIMARY TARGET WASN'T DISPLAYED DUE TO AN ATMOSPHERIC INVERSION. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: XAJED (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: S/N 47356 - Engines: P&W JT8D 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 129 - Registered owner: Aeronaves De Mexico, S.A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: TIJ, TIJUANA,MEXICO, OF - Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4891F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4891F-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 28-7790070, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-779007 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Kramer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA - Destination: L35, BIG BEAR CITY, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft 1; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,641 total, 4,632 in this make and model, 147 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N4891F; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 231 total, 214 in this make and model, 187 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 14 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAX, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19860831086981A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860831086981A), Aug 31, 1986: Piper PA28181, Cerritos, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Climbed into the tca without a clearance and failed to see and avoid a DC9, xajed. Impact sheared tail of DC9. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.