# NTSB LAX88FA006: Boeing 767-201, N604P, Los Angeles, CA, October 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1987, 21:27 local (Oct 5, 1987, 04:27 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.950107, -118.400817 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9501&lon=-118.4008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 148 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25780
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25780/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA006

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CAPTAIN SENSED THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONING DURING THE FLARE. HE INCREASED THE PITCH ANGLE TO 11.8 DEGREES TO ARREST THE DESCENT DURING TOUCHDOWN. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SITTING IN THE AFT CABIN CREW SEATS HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND JUST PRIOR TO MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHDOWN. THE TAIL STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE DURING THE FLARE. THE AFT PRESSURE DOME WAS SCRAPED, BENT, AND BUCKLED. THE CAPTAIN ATTRIBUTED THE BALLOONING TO WAKE TURBULENCE OF A PRECEEDING DC-8 ARRIVAL. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER 11.0 DEGREES IS THE MAXIMUM PITCH ANGLE WITH THE OLEOS COMPRESSED. THE FDR READOUT DID NOT INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF WAKE TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN HAD RECENTLY BEEN TYPE-RATED IN THE BOEING 767 AND HAD ACCRUED A TOTAL OF 46 HOURS IN THE AIRCRAFT, 4.5 HOURS OF WHICH WAS ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N604P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 767-201
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23898
- Airframe hours: 1233
- Engines: GE CF6-80C2-B2 52500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Piedmont Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Meridan Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC
- Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Int'L, runway 25L, 11,096 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,582 total, 46 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAX, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19871004061869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871004061869A), Oct 4, 1987: Boeing 767201, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Pitch was too high on landing causing a tail strike on the runway and structural aircraft damage.

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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