# NTSB LAX93LA337: Cessna 208B, N781FE, Los Angeles, CA, August 28, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1993, 04:59 local (11:59 UTC) - Place: Los Angeles, CA - Coordinates: 33.940002, -118.239524 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9400&lon=-118.2395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28460/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA337 ## Probable cause The inattention of the driver of a service truck to yield to aircraft and subsequent collision with the airplane as it crossed the service roadway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - object - vehicle (cause) - airport operations - inattentive, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis AFTER LANDING FROM A POSITIONING FLIGHT BEFORE BEGINNING CARGO OPERATIONS, THE PILOT WAS TAXIING SOUTH ON A TAXIWAY AND HAD BEEN CLEARED TO CROSS INTERSECTING TAXIWAYS. WHILE CROSSING A SERVICE ROAD THAT PARALLELED THE EAST/WEST INTERSECTING TAXIWAYS, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A CATERING TRUCK THAT WAS EASTBOUND ON THE SERVICE ROAD. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WERE DAMAGED. VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO YIELD TO AIRCRAFT. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1993, at 0459 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N781FE, collided with a ground vehicle at the Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California. The airplane was completing an instrument flight rules (IFR) positioning flight to Los Angeles, under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by Westair Industries Inc. as a cargo sub-contractor for Federal Express Corp., was substantially damaged. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, and the driver of the vehicle were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, at 0340 hours. The pilot reported that after landing on runway 6R at Los Angeles she was cleared by ground control personnel to taxi to the cargo terminal. While taxiing south on taxiway 49 between taxiway K and taxiway J, the airplane collided with a catering truck that was eastbound on the service road that is located between taxiway K and J. The right wing of the airplane struck the left side of the truck and the airplane then pivoted 90 degrees to the right. The right wing and right side of the airplane were damaged. The catering truck received minor damage. The Los Angeles Department of Airports reported that the airplane's navigational lights were operating. Witnesses reported observing the airplane taxiing southbound on taxiway 49 and being struck by the catering truck. The closest official weather observation station is located on the airport. At 0359 hours, a surface observation was reporting in part: Sky condition and ceiling, partial obscuration, 1,100 feet scattered; visibility, 5 miles in fog; temperature, 65 degrees F; dew point, 640 degrees F; wind, 360 degrees at 4 knots; altimeter, 29.92 inHg. Los Angeles International Airport is equipped with 4 parallel hard surfaced runways on a 240 to 060 degree magnetic orientation. Numerous service roads allow vehicle access to most areas of the airport operations area. Drivers are required to have a driving permit and the catering truck driver had the proper permit. Radio communications between vehicles and the airport control tower is not required for vehicles utilizing the service roadways. Vehicles must yield to aircraft operating on the runways and taxiways. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N781FE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N781FE), registered now, S/N 208B0278, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 278 - Airframe hours: 842 - Engines: P&W PT6A-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Westair Industries Inc. - Registered owner: Westair Industries Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 22, 1993, 54 hours before - Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV - Airport: LAX, Los Angeles International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,600 total, 5,400 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °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 19930828031599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930828031599A), Aug 28, 1993: Cessna 208B, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot was taxiing to ramp when the aircraft was struck by a truck. Truck driver stated he never saw aircraft. ## Other investigations on N781FE (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 WPR19IA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19IA030), Nov 24, 2018: Cessna 208 (N781FE), Bakersfield, CA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of consciousness while taxiing due to an accumulation of toxic levels of carbon dioxide gas inside the airplane as a result of dry ice sublimation. Also causal was the pilot's… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.