# NTSB LAX88FA057: Boeing 737-387, N383AU, Los Angeles, CA, November 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1987, 12:42 local (20:42 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.949726, -118.400009 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9497&lon=-118.4000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 142 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25793/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA057

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,slides - engaged (contributing factor)
  - emergency equipment - improper use of, passenger (cause)
  - proper assistance - delayed, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - proper assistance - not performed, flight attendant

## Analysis

THE BOEING 737-387, N383AU, OPERATING AS USAIR FLT 20, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED DOMESTIC FLIGHT, RETURNED TO LAX SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHEN THE CAPT WAS ADVISED OF A BOMB THREAT. AFTER LANDING ON RWY 24L, THE CAPT PARKED THE AIRPLANE ON THE WEST END OF THE RWY. USAIR GND PSNL FAILED TO BRING THE STAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THE CAPT ORDERED AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION. ONE PAX SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHEN SHE EXITED AN OVERWING EMERGENCY EXIT AFTER AN UNIDENTIFIED PAX OPENED IT ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE. ANOTHER PAX, AN ELDERLY FEMALE, SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN SHE USED THE LEFT REAR SLIDE. 3 UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAX WERE ASKED TO ASSIST OTHER PAX, BUT AFTER THEY EXITED THEY RAN FM THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N383AU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-387
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23700
- Airframe hours: 201
- Engines: GE CFM-56-3B2 turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Usair
- Registered owner: Usair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 24, 1987
- Departed: LAX
- Destination: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles, runway 24, 10,285 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,700 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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).

- [Accident 19871125083289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871125083289A), Nov 25, 1987: Boeing 7373B7, Los Angeles, CA. Bomb threat. Returned.two passengers injured on emergency evacuation. Persons assigned to assist evacuation panicked

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.
