# NTSB LAX97IA056: Embraer EMB-120ER, N291SW, Los Angeles, CA, November 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 1996, 18:50 local (Nov 30, 1996, 02:50 UTC) - Place: Los Angeles, CA - Location: 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Los Angeles, CA, within about 12 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0522&lon=-118.2437&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 17 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29643 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97IA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29643/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97IA056 ## Probable cause a laser light source of unknown origin, directed toward the aircraft, as it was approaching to land. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - light condition - dark night - light condition - other (cause) - incapacitation(visual deficiency), pilot in command - relinquishing of control - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis The aircraft was on a visual approach when a bright blue light shone through the right cabin window and into the captain's right eye. The captain reported that as he continued the fight, his ability to see became difficult due to burning and tearing. By the time the flight was on final approach, he was experiencing so much discomfort that he relinquished the controls to the first officer, who landed the aircraft. A medical examination revealed multiple flash burns to the captain's right cornea. Further examination by Air Force specialists revealed no permanent eye damage. Investigators were unable to locate the source of the laser light. There were no NOTAMs for laser light activity at the time of the incident. ## Factual narrative On November 29, 1996, about 1850 hours Pacific standard time, the captain on Skywest Airlines flight 5410 sustained an eye injury when he was illuminated by what is believed to be a laser beam during an approach to Los Angeles, California. The aircraft, an Embraer EMB-120 ER, N291SW, was operated by Skywest Airlines, Inc., as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight under 14 CFR Part 135 when the incident occurred. The flight originated in Bakersfield, California, at 1825 on the evening of the incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the assigned altitude and an IFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft was level at 6,000 feet msl on a right base for a visual approach to runway 24R. The pilot was looking for downwind traffic through the right cabin window when he was struck in his right eye by a bright blue beam of light. According to a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, the captain immediately remarked "What the (expletive) is that?" The first officer replied "A light, on the ground. A (expletive) laser." The captain then remarked, "It almost blinded me in my right eye." The captain reported that as the flight continued it became difficult for him to see from that eye due to increased burning and tearing. By the time the flight was established on final approach, the captain was experiencing so much discomfort that he relinquished the controls to the first officer who completed the landing. After landing, the captain advised Los Angeles ground control and Skywest dispatch of the incident and then requested medical attention. His medical examination at Centinela Hospital revealed multiple flash burns to his right cornea. The captain estimated they had been in the vicinity of the Hollywood Hills when he encountered the light. The captain was also examined by the staff at the Visual Psychophysics Branch, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks AFB, Texas. Their examination revealed no evidence of permanent effects from the exposure. Investigators from the FDA were notified and attempted, without success, to locate the source of the beam. According to the FAA, there were no NOTAMs in effect for laser light activity in the Los Angeles area at the time of the incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N291SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N291SW), registered now, S/N 120.318, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Embraer EMB-120ER - Registry model: [Embraer EMB-120ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (registry code 3260203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (registry code 52116, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 120.318 - Airframe hours: 1027 - Engines: P&W PW118A 900 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Skywest Airlines, doing business as Skywest Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: First Security Bank - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 10, 1996, 211 hours before - Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA - Destination: LAX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAX, Los Angeles International, runway 24R, 12,091 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial, 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: 7,428 total, 201 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 340° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAX, 16 nm away 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.