# NTSB LAX89FA086: Fairchild SA227AC, N26895, Los Angeles, CA, January 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1989, 17:44 local (Jan 18, 1989, 01:44 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.949901, -118.399681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9499&lon=-118.3997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 7 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26204/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA086

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANKER DRIVER TO SEE AND AVOID THE MOVING AIRCRAFT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DRIVER'S OBSTRUCTED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE'S CAB, AND THE DUSK LIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - landing lights - not used, pilot in command
  - visual lookout - inadequate, driver of vehicle (cause)
  - acft/equip inadequate,visual restriction, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle

## Analysis

THE SA227 HAD LANDED & WAS TAXIING TO THE GATE WITH THE TAXI, LANDING, RECOGNITION & STROBE LIGHTS OFF. AS IT TAXIED NORTHBOUND TOWARD THE GATE, THE DRIVER OF AN EASTBOUND FUEL TANKER TRUCK FAILED TO STOP AT A POSTED 'STOP FOR ACFT' SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE VEHICLE SERVICE ROAD & THE TAXIWAY. THE TANKER TRUCK COLLIDE WITH, AND PARTIALLY SEVERED, THE ACFT'S LEFT WING. THE DRIVER OF THE TANKER TRUCK INDICATED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE ACFT UNTIL IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS TRUCK & THEN IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP. THE TANKER TRUCK DRIVER'S 1:30-2:00 VIEW VIEW WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY THE TRUCK STRUCTURE; THE 2:00-3:00 VIEW CONSIDERABLY RESTRICTED BY THE TRUCK'S CAGE STRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT CONTAINED THEREIN. AIRPORT REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT 'LOW SILHOUTTE' AIRCRAFT TAXI WITH LANDING LIGHTS ON UNTIL CLEAR OF TAXIWAYS AND INTERSECTING VEHICLE ACCESS ROADS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26895](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26895-1997-08-05), registration cancelled 1997-08-05, S/N AC656 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227AC
- Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC-656
- Airframe hours: 5718
- Engines: GARRETT TPE 331-11 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Skywest Airlines
- Registered owner: Provident Commercial Group
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 15, 1989, 14 hours before
- Departed: ONT, ONTARIO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; 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: 9,860 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 307 in the last 90 days, 74 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19890117000719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890117000719A), Jan 17, 1989: Swrngn SA227AC, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Gasoline truck collided with the taxiing aircraft at service road.

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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