# NTSB LAX85IA037: Boeing 747-131, N93106, Los Angeles, CA, November 2, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 1, 1984, 19:18 local (Nov 2, 1984, 03:18 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.949565, -118.399276 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9496&lon=-118.3993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 365 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85IA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24555/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85IA037

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING DARKNESS, A BOEING 747, N93106, WAS BEING TAXIED FOR DEPARTURE WHEN ITS LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT WING OF A BOEING 767 BEING TOWED IN THE SAME DIRECTION ON A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. BOTH CREWS HAD OBTAINED GROUND CONTROL CLEARANCES TO PERFORM THEIR RESPECTIVE OPERATIONS. IN THE AREA OF THE COLLISION, THE TAXIWAYS DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT SEPARATION FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS OF WIDE-BODIED ACFT & STANDING PROCEDURES FOR GROUND CONTROLLERS PROHIBITED SUCH OPERATIONS. THE GROUND CONTROL POSITION WAS BEING WORKED BY A DEVELOPMENTAL CONTROLLER IN TRAINING UNDER SUPER- VISION OF A FULL PERFORMANCE CONTROLLER. THE ACFT BEING TOWED WAS BEING MOVED FROM GATE 75 WITH THE CALL SIGN 'UNITED 75 TOW.'  THIS CALL SIGN WAS DERIVED BY USING THE COMPANY NAME (UNITED), THE GATE NUMBER (75), & THE WORD 'TOW.'  WHILE IT WAS BEING TAXIED, UNITED FLT 75 OBTAINED CLEARANCE TO TAXI, BUT THE CONTROLLERS SAID THAT THEY DID NOT GET THE CALL SIGNS CONFUSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N93106 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-131
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19672
- Engines: P&W JT9D 45000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Manufacturers Hanover Trust
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX
- Destination: LHR, LONDON,ENGLAND, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,277 total, 2,524 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAX

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19841101066559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841101066559I), Nov 1, 1984: Boeing 747131, Los Angeles, CA, Minor damage. While taxiing in restricted clearance area leading edge flap struck wingtip of towed 614UA.

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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