# NTSB LAX87FA219: Boeing 727-264, Los Angeles, CA, June 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1987, 23:31 local (Jun 1, 1987, 06:31 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.95045, -118.399063 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9504&lon=-118.3991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 9 minor, 142 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA219

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi - from landing
  - emergency procedure - initiated, passenger (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, passenger (contributing factor)
  - emotional reaction, passenger (contributing factor)
  - panic, passenger (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON RWY 25 LEFT AND WAS HOLDING SHORT OF 25 RIGHT FOR A CROSSING CLEARANCE WHEN THE FLIGHT ENGINEER STARTED THE APU. PASSENGERS SEATED IN THE AREA BETWEEN ROWS 20 AND 22 ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CABIN OBSERVED A 'BRIGHT' YELLOW BLOSSOMING GLOW' EMANATE FROM THE APU DISCHARGE DUCT AND ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVED THIS TO BE A FIRE IN THE RIGHT WING. SEVERAL PASSENGERS SHOUTED 'FIRE,' AND, TWO PASSENGERS RUSHED TO THE 19 LEFT OVER WING EMERGENCY EXIT, OPENED IT AND DOVE OUT ONTO THE WING. OTHER PASSENGERS FOLLOWED THE FIRST TWO OUT ONTO THE WING. THE PANIC SPREAD TO THE FORWARD AND AFT AREAS OF THE CABIN AND THE PASSENGERS BEGAN RUSHING TOWARD THE DOORS. THE CREW HEARD THE SHOUTS OF FIRE AND SUBSEQUENTLY STOPPED THE AIRCRAFT AND ORDERED AN EVACUATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: XAFIE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-264
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21072
- Airframe hours: 34794
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17R 17400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Registered owner: Compania Mexicana De Aviacion
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 14, 1987, 137 hours before
- Departed: GDL, GUADALAJARA
- Destination: LAX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl, runway 25L, 11,096 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,655 total, 119 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °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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