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NTSB Report
October 5, 1987 · Boeing 767-201 · N604P
Los Angeles, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (148 uninjured)
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft
Boeing 767-201
Tail Number
N604P
Operator
Piedmont Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX88FA006
THE CAPTAIN SENSED THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONING DURING THE FLARE. HE INCREASED THE PITCH ANGLE TO 11.8 DEGREES TO ARREST THE DESCENT DURING TOUCHDOWN. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SITTING IN THE AFT CABIN CREW SEATS HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND JUST PRIOR TO MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHDOWN. THE TAIL STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE DURING THE FLARE. THE AFT PRESSURE DOME WAS SCRAPED, BENT, AND BUCKLED. THE CAPTAIN ATTRIBUTED THE BALLOONING TO WAKE TURBULENCE OF A PRECEEDING DC-8 ARRIVAL. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER 11.0 DEGREES IS THE MAXIMUM PITCH ANGLE WITH THE OLEOS COMPRESSED. THE FDR READOUT DID NOT INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF WAKE TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN HAD RECENTLY BEEN TYPE-RATED IN THE BOEING 767 AND HAD ACCRUED A TOTAL OF 46 HOURS IN THE AIRCRAFT, 4.5 HOURS OF WHICH WAS ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
Full Narrative
THE CAPTAIN SENSED THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONING DURING THE FLARE. HE INCREASED THE PITCH ANGLE TO 11.8 DEGREES TO ARREST THE DESCENT DURING TOUCHDOWN. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SITTING IN THE AFT CABIN CREW SEATS HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND JUST PRIOR TO MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHDOWN. THE TAIL STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE DURING THE FLARE. THE AFT PRESSURE DOME WAS SCRAPED, BENT, AND BUCKLED. THE CAPTAIN ATTRIBUTED THE BALLOONING TO WAKE TURBULENCE OF A PRECEEDING DC-8 ARRIVAL. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER 11.0 DEGREES IS THE MAXIMUM PITCH ANGLE WITH THE OLEOS COMPRESSED. THE FDR READOUT DID NOT INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF WAKE TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN HAD RECENTLY BEEN TYPE-RATED IN THE BOEING 767 AND HAD ACCRUED A TOTAL OF 46 HOURS IN THE AIRCRAFT, 4.5 HOURS OF WHICH WAS ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:27 PDT
Nearest AirportLos Angeles Int'L (0nm N)
Runway25L
Runway Length11096 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 767-201
Tail NumberN604P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPiedmont Aviation
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGe · CF6-80C2-B2 · Turbofan · 52500
Seats210
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (148 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured148
Total148
Crew 1Age 47 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind250° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time04:52
Weather SourceWFAC