# NTSB LAX88IA064: Boeing 737-300, N4571M, Los Angeles, CA, December 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1987, 12:53 local (20:53 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.95042, -118.400978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9504&lon=-118.4010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 87 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88IA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88IA064

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi - from landing
  - airport facilities,ramp facilities - congested (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway marking - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway marking - inaccurate (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DELTA FLT 1605 LANDED ON RWY 25L. AFTER CROSSING RWY 25R, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO CONTACT THE GND CONTROLLER. THE GROUND CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO TURN WEST ON THE OUTER TAXIWAY. THE CAPT BECAME DISORIENTATED AND INADVERTENTLY REENTERED RWY 25R. HE IMMEDIATELY REALIZED HIS MISTAKE AND EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN AND EXITED THE RWY. WHEN THE FLT ENTERED RWY 25R, UNITED AIRLINES FLT 14, A DC-10 HAD ALREADY BEGUN ITS TAKEOFF ROLL. THE CAPT ABOARD UAL FLT 14 ELECTED TO CONTINUE ITS TAKEOFF ROLL, ROTATED AND BEGAN ITS CLIMB. UAL FLT 14 CROSSED OVER DELTA FLT 1605 ABOUT 200 FT A.G.L. DELTA'S CAPT REPTD THAT DUE TO HEAVY CONSTRUCTION AT THE TERMINAL AREA HE BECAME DISORIENTATED EVEN THOUGH HE HAD FLOWN AT LAX FOR MANY YEARS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE RWY 25R SIGN WAS NOT VISIBLE. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT THE SIGN HAD BEEN BLOWN OVER. THE FIRST OFFICER REPTD THAT WHILE THE CAPT WAS TAXIING THE ACFT HE WAS BUSY COMPLETING THE AFTER LNDG CHECKLIST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4571M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4571M-1995-09-19), registration cancelled 1995-09-19, S/N 22793 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-300
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-2T2](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-2t2) (registry code 1384491) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: GE CFM-56 20560 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Delta Airlines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- 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 46; 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: 12,581 total, 570 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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