# NTSB OPS24LA004: Airbus A321-271N, N216HA, Long Beach, CA, October 27, 2023

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 27, 2023, 01:01 UTC
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.813884, -118.14666
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8139&lon=-118.1467&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Approach: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100); [Approach-VFR pattern final: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100)
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Operational Factors Division
- Parties: NATCA, FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193314
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OPS24LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193314/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OPS24LA004

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The local controller’s poor judgment in prioritization of their ground traffic ahead of their airborne traffic, that became a distraction and led to a loss of situational awareness resulting in a near midair collision. Contributing to the incident was the controller in charge’s ineffective oversight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Workload management: task overload](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064025): Personnel issues › Task performance · ATC personnel (probable cause), aircraft 1
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · ATC personnel (probable cause), aircraft 1
- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · ATC personnel (probable cause), aircraft 2
- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · ATC personnel (probable cause), aircraft 2

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

Hawaiian Airlines flight 70 (HAL70), N2165HA, an Airbus A321, and a Textron Aviation, Inc. C172N, N24CV, were involved in a near mid air collision (NMAC) over the point where runway 30 and the final approach path for runway 26L intersect at Long Beach (Daugherty Field) Airport (LGB). At the time of the incident, the local control 1 (LC1), local assist, and ground control positions were combined to the LC1 position in the LGB air traffic control tower and staffed by a single certified professional controller. According to ATC transcripts and a post-- event interview, the LC1 controller turned N24CV on a base leg to runway 26L and cleared N24CV to land on 26L when the aircraft was approximately one mile from the runway. About this same time, the LC1 controller also cleared HAL70 to land on runway 30, when the flight was on a four-mile final. The LC1 controller did not realize that N24CV continued another half mile before starting their base turn, an event which led to both aircraft arriving at the airport at nearly the same time. In the three minutes leading to the incident, the LC1 controller received multiple calls on the ground control frequency from aircraft requesting push-back. He also initiated a call to the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) to request a release for another aircraft. These events distracted the LC1 controller from the local control operation at the time of the incident. This duty prioritization was not consistent with guidance contained in FAA Order JO 7110.65AA, Air Traffic Control, 2-1-1, ATC Service and 2-10-3, Tower Team Position Responsibilities. The controller in charge (CIC) stated in the post event interview that he heard the LC1 controller calling TMU for the release and said he should have made the call instead, and this was a failure on his part. This would have allowed the LC1 controller to concentrate on traffic. The CIC also stated he was not actively monitoring the LC1 controller frequencies and stated he should have been a second set of eyes for the LC1 controller. This was not consistent with guidance contained in the LGB7110.3G SOP, Chapter 3-1-1, Clearance Delivery, Chapter 7-1-1, Front Line Manger/Controller in Charge and 7-2-1, subsection f.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100) (defining event), aircraft 1
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100) (defining event), aircraft 2

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N216HA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N216HA), registered now, S/N 8471, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A321-271N (271N)
- Registry model: [Airbus A321-271N](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-271n) (registry code 3930910) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [IAE PW1133G-JM](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-pw1133g-jm) (registry code 34600, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8471
- Year built: 2018
- Engines: IAE PW1133G-JM 33110 lbs thrust turbo fan; IAE PW1133G-JM 33110 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Hawaiian Airlines Inc
- Registered owner: Hawaiian Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Commuter
- Departed: HNL, Honolulu, HI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach (Daugherty Fld), runway 12/30, 10,000 × 200 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N24CV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24CV), registered now, S/N 17270186, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270186
- Year built: 1977
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Pacific Air Flight School LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Departed: SBA, Santa Barbara, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KLGB
- METAR: METAR KLGB 270353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/14 A2999 RMK 
	AO2 SLP154 T01890144=


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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