# NTSB LAX90FA148: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10F, N68056, Los Angeles, CA, April 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1990, 04:33 local (11:33 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.950363, -118.400939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9504&lon=-118.4009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26626/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA148

## Probable cause

PILOT FAILED TO ADHERE TO ESTABLISHED LANDING PROCEDURES, MAINTAIN A STABILIZED APPROACH, AND ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW THE PREDICTED V.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vref) - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED FEDERAL EXPRESS (FEDEX) DOMESTIC CARGO FLIGHT WAS ROUTINE WHEN IT ARRIVED OVER LOS ANGELES FROM MEMPHIS. THE CAPT CONDUCTED A PRELANDING BRIEFING FOR THE IMPENDING VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 07L AT LAX. THE BRIEFING INCLUDED SETTING THE VREF SPEEDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPANY FLIGHT OPERATIONS POLICY. THE COMPUTED VREF SPEED FOR LANDING AS 143 KNOTS; THE TOUCHDOWN SPEED WAS 138 KNOTS. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A STABILIZED APPROACH AND THE AIRSPEED DECREASED TO 138 KIAS WHEN CROSSING OVER THE THRESHOLD. FROM THAT POINT THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DECELERATE TO 122.3 KNOTS AT TOUCH DOWN WITH A PITCH ATTITUDE OF 11.1 DEG. AT TOUCHDOWN THE PITCH ATTITUDE CONTINUED TO INCREASE UNTIL THE TAILSTRICK OCCURRED AT A PITCH ATTITUDE OF 13.2 DEG. DFDR RECORDED DATA DISCLOSED THE CAPT RELAXED THE ELEVATOR CONTROL BACK PRESSURE BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE TAIL STRIKE. THE FLT MANUAL RECOMMENDS THE PILOT TO LOWER THE NOSE UPON TOUCHDOWN TO COUNTERACT THE INCREASE IN PITCH ATTITUDE DUE TO GROUND SPOILER ACTIVATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68056](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68056-2009-09-30), registration cancelled 2009-09-30, S/N 47810, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10F
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-10-10F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-10-10f) (registry code 3022112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF6-6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-6d) (registry code 30076, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47810
- Airframe hours: 35301
- Engines: GE CF6-6D 40000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 26, 1989, 705 hours before
- Departed: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,187 total, 3,690 in this make and model, 3,506 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °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 19900418010239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900418010239A), Apr 18, 1990: Doug DC1010F, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Excessive pitch up on landing flare causing tail strike.

## Other investigations on N68056 (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN83FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA021), Nov 19, 1982: Mcdonald Douglas DC-10 (N68056), Denver, CO, substantial damage

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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