# NTSB LAX89IA184: Boeing 747, Los Angeles, CA, May 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1989, 17:38 local (May 8, 1989, 00:38 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.95021, -118.400512 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9502&lon=-118.4005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 383 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89IA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89IA184

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK-OUT BY THE PILOT OF THE OTHER (SMALL TWIN ENGINE) AIRCRAFT.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE INCIDENT WAS:  A DELAY OF THE 747 CREW TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Near collision between aircraft, cruise
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AIR NEW ZEALAND FLT 6 (BOEING B-747, ZK-NZX) WAS INBOUND TO LOS ANEGLES.  IT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO 7000 FT ABOUT 26 MI SOUTH OF THE SEAL BEACH VOR.  COAST TRACON WAS TRACKING THE 747 & ANOTHER MODE C TARGET, BUT WAS NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE 2ND (UNKNOWN) ACFT.  ATC ISSUED TRAFFIC ADVISORIES TO THE 747 AS THE 2ND ACFT CLOSED ON A HEAD-ON COURSE.  THE 747 CREW MADE AN ABRUPT DESCENDING LEFT TURN TO AVOID THE OTHER ACFT, WHICH WAS CONVERVING AT THE SAME ALTITUDE & PASSED WITH APRX 100 METERS HORIZONTAL DISTANCE. THE OTHER ACFT WAS RPRTD TO BE A SMALL TWIN ENG AIRPLANE. TWO FLT ATTENDANTS & ONE PSGR RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.  THE AREA & ALTITUDE WERE IN UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: ZKNZX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22724
- Engines: Rolls-Royce RB211-524D4 54000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Air New Zealand
- Registered owner: Koru Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: NTAA, PAPEETE,TAHITI, OF
- Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 2 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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