# NTSB LAX87IA303: Boeing 747-300, Los Angeles, CA, August 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1987, 11:27 local (18:27 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.949485, -118.400436 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9495&lon=-118.4004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 363 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25438
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87IA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25438/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87IA303

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - information unclear(phraseology), atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DRG ARR, JAPAN AIRLINE FLT 62 (BOEING 747, JA-8163) WAS INITIALLY VECTORED (BY LAX ARTCC) FOR AN ILS RWY 24R APCH IN REDUCED VISIBILITY (HAZE). BFR TURNING FINAL, FLT 62 WAS ADZD OF AN ACFT THAT WAS 4 MI AHEAD. FLT 62 RPRTD THAT THEY HAD THE ACFT IN SIGHT. THE CTLR TOLD THEM TO TURN TO 230 DEG FOR FINAL APCH & TO FOLLOW THE ACFT AHEAD, THEN CLRD THE FLT FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 24R. AFTER CHGG TO TWR FREQ, THE TWR CTLR (LC-2) TOLD THE FLT TO CHG TO RWY 24L & THEN CLRDTHEM TO LAND. THE FLT ACKNOWLEDGED. LC-2 NOTED THE ACFT WAS TRACKING RGT OF COURSE & ASKED THE FLT TO VERIFY THE RWY WASIN SIGHT. THE CREW REPLIED THE RWY WAS NOT IN SIGHT & CONTD DSCNDG ON AN INBND HDG. LC-2 TOLD THE FLT THEY WOULD HAVE TOTURN SOUTHBOUND, THEN TOLD THEM TO 'TURN LEFT 10 DEG.'  SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABT 3/4 MI EAST & 1 MI NORTH OF THE THRESHOLD AT 700 TO 800 FT, THE CREW MADE AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN TO ALIGN THE ACFT WITH THE RWY BY TURNING FM A HDG OF 240 DEG TO 175 DEG & THEN TURNING BACK TO THE RGT. THE ACFT ROLLED OUT OF THE TURN, JUST BFR TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: J8163 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-300
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W JT-9D 54750 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Japan Airlines
- Registered owner: Japan Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: RJAA, TOKYO, JAPAN
- Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl, runway 24L, 10,285 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 12,248 total, 5,479 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAX, 1 nm away

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.