# NTSB LAX83IA149: Boeing 747, Los Angeles, CA, March 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 18, 1983, 19:45 local (Mar 19, 1983, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Location: 33.9425° N, 118.4080° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LOS ANGELES INTL (LAX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9425&lon=-118.4080&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 588 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83IA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83IA149

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, standing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

N323EA WAS STOPPED 44 FT PRIOR TO THE FINAL TURN OFF POINT FOR IT'S GATE ALLOWING THE TAIL TO EXTEND 21 FT BEYOND THE LIMIT LINE. 9VSQQ WAS TAXIING AT 'PILOTS DISCRETION' ALONG THE TAXIWAY CENTERLINE WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO PASS BEHIND N323EA AT A 90 DEG RT ANGLE. THE RT WING OF 9VSQQ COLLIDED WITH THE THRUST REVERSER AND TAIL PIPE OF N323EA. THE CREW OF 9VSQQ STATED THEY SAW N323EA, BUT FELT SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE EXSISTED BTWN THE TWO ACFT. N323EA'S THRUST REVERSER WAS DESTROYED AND 9VSQQ'S RT WING TIP WAS RIPPED FROM LEADING TO TRAILING EDGE. N323EA HAD STROBE LIGHTS OPERATING WHILE STOPPED ON THE RAMP. THE CAPTAIN OF 9VSQQ WARNED THE FIRST OFFICER JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, 'DON'T LOOK AT THE STROBES THEY'LL BLIND YOU.'

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

N323EA WAS STOPPED 44 FT PRIOR TO THE FINAL TURN OFF POINT FOR IT'S GATE ALLOWING THE TAIL TO EXTEND 21 FT BEYOND THE LIMIT LINE. 9VSQQ WAS TAXIING AT 'PILOTS DISCRETION' ALONG THE TAXIWAY CENTERLINE WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO PASS BEHIND N323EA AT A 90 DEG RT ANGLE. THE RT WING OF 9VSQQ COLLIDED WITH THE THRUST REVERSER AND TAIL PIPE OF N323EA. THE CREW OF 9VSQQ STATED THEY SAW N323EA, BUT FELT SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE EXISTED BTWN THE TWO ACFT. N323EA'S THRUST REVERSER WAS DESTROYED AND 9VSQQ'S RT WING TIP WAS RIPPED FROM LEADING TO TRAILING EDGE. N323EA HAD STROBE LIGHTS OPERATING WHILE STOPPED ON THE RAMP. THE CAPTAIN OF 9VSQQ WARNED THE FIRST OFFICER JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, 'DON'T LOOK AT THE STROBES THEY'LL BLIND YOU.'

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: 9VSQQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7A 46250 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Singapore Airlines, Ltd.
- Registered owner: Singapore Airlines, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: HNL, HONOLULU, HI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N323EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N323EA-1988-12-02), registration cancelled 1988-12-02, S/N 193A1045 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED L-1011
- Registry model: [Lockheed L-1011-385-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-l-1011-385-1) (registry code 5265010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: Rolls-Royce RB-211 turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft 1; airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model
- Pilot, aircraft N323EA; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAX

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.

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