# NTSB LAX86IA021: Boeing 727-200, N6815A, Oakland, CA, October 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1985, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Oakland, CA
- Location: 37.7213° N, 122.2212° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at OAKLAND SAN FRANCISCO BAY (OAK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7213&lon=-122.2212&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 90 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24989
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86IA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24989/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86IA021

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - pushback/tow
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, ground personnel (cause)
  - improper use of equipment/aircraft, ground personnel (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

ON OCTOBER 24, 1985, AN AMERICAN AIRLINES 727 COLLIDED WITH A PARKED UNITED AIRLINES 727 DURING A POWER BACK OPERATION AT OAKLAND, CA. IMC EXISTED AT THE TIME WITH VISIBILITY LIMITED TO 0 FT DUE TO FOG. THE AA AC SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO ITS LEFT WING AND THE UA AC RECIEVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ITS TR WG. AA HAD TWO WING WALKERS AND A LEAD WALKER POSITIONED AT THE NOSE OF THE AA AC. THE LEAD PERSON STATED HER GOGGLES HAD FOGGED OVER AND COULDN'T CLEARLY SEE THE OTHER WING WALKERS. ADDTIONALLY, THE WANDS USED BY LEAD AND THE LT WING WALKER WERE INOPERATIVE. ACCORDING TO OTHER WITNESSES, LEAD DID NOT SEE THE STOP SIGNAL GIVEN BY THE LEFT WING WALKER. LEAD SAID SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6815A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-200
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9 14500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport
- Destination: CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OAK, Oakland

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 14,300 total, 600 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OAK

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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