# NTSB LAX89FA303: Fairchild SA227-AC, N27283, Los Angeles, CA, September 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1989, 20:02 local (Sep 7, 1989, 03:02 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.950569, -118.399314 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9506&lon=-118.3993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 10 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26247/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA303

## Probable cause

THE FUEL TRUCK DRIVER'S IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE VECHICLE ON THE AIRPORT. FACTORS WERE THE DRIVER'S DIVERTED ATTENTION AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY COMPANY MANAGEMENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - light condition - bright night
  - airport operations - improper, driver of vehicle (cause)
  - diverted attention, driver of vehicle (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle
  - supervision - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)

## Analysis

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS ATC CLEARANCE, A SKYWEST AIRLINES FAIRCHILD (METROLINER) WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF FOR ITS SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROCEEDING W-BND ON INNER TAXIWAY KILO. A FULLY LOADED, 10,000 GAL JET-A FUEL TANKER TRUCK, BEING DRIVEN BY A TRAINEE DRIVER, WAS PROCEEDING E-BND ON A SERVICE VEHICLE ACCESS ROAD SOUTH OF KILO. THE TRAINEE WAS FOLLOWING HIS TRAINER WHO WAS IN A SIMILAR SIZE TANKER TRUCK. THE TRAINER TURNED LEFT (N-BND), CROSSED KILO NEAR TAXIWAY 47J, & PROCEEDED TOWARD THE BRADLEY INTL TERMINAL. THE TRAINEE WAS LEFT ALONE, SOUTH OF KILO. THE TRAINEE THEN TURNED LEFT & PROCEEDED N-BND IN AN EFFORT TO CROSS KILO. THE TRAINEE FAILED TO OBSERVE THAT KILO WAS OCCUPIED BY THE W-BND FAIRCHILD, & THE VEHICLES COLLIDED. THE COLLISION BROKE THE ACFT'S LEFT WING, FUEL SPILLED & SPARKS WERE GENERATED. THERE WAS NO FIRE & ALL OCCUPANTS EVACUATED WITHOUT FURTHER MISHAP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27283](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27283-1992-09-16), registration cancelled 1992-09-16, S/N AC729 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AC
- Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC-729
- Airframe hours: 1084
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-11 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Skywest Airlines
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co. Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,400 total, 1,872 in this make and model, 275 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °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 19890906035759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890906035759A), Sep 6, 1989: Swrngn SA227AC, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Collided with a fuel truck while taxiing for takeoff. Truck driver a trainee. Future taxi traffic to use lights.

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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