Columbus - Los Angeles
Flight / Schedule
Columbus - Los Angeles
Aircraft
Boeing 737-300Registration
N388US
MSN
23310
Year of Manufacture
1985
Operator
USAir - US AirwaysDate
February 1, 1991 at 06:07 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Los Angeles California
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
34.0587°, -118.4165°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On February 1, 1991 at 06:07 PM, Columbus - Los Angeles experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-300, operated by USAir - US Airways, with the event recorded near Los Angeles California.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
89 people were known to be on board, 22 fatalities were recorded, 67 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 24.7%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 83, passenger fatalities: 20, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. SKW5569, N683AV, had been cleared to runway 24L, at intersection 45, to position and hold. The local controller, because of her preoccupation with another airplane, forgot she had placed SKW5569 on the runway and subsequently cleared US1493, N388US, for landing. After the collision, the two airplanes slid off the runway into an unoccupied fire station. The tower operating procedures did not require flight progress strips to be processed through the local ground control position. Because this strip was not present, the local controller misidentified an airplane and issued a landing clearance. The technical appraisal program for air traffic controllers is not being fully utilized because of a lack of understanding by supervisors and the unavailability of appraisal histories.
Aircraft reference details include registration N388US, MSN 23310, year of manufacture 1985.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.0587°, -118.4165°.
Fatalities
Total
22
Crew
2
Passengers
20
Other
0
Crash Summary
SKW5569, N683AV, had been cleared to runway 24L, at intersection 45, to position and hold. The local controller, because of her preoccupation with another airplane, forgot she had placed SKW5569 on the runway and subsequently cleared US1493, N388US, for landing. After the collision, the two airplanes slid off the runway into an unoccupied fire station. The tower operating procedures did not require flight progress strips to be processed through the local ground control position. Because this strip was not present, the local controller misidentified an airplane and issued a landing clearance. The technical appraisal program for air traffic controllers is not being fully utilized because of a lack of understanding by supervisors and the unavailability of appraisal histories.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
83
Estimated Survivors
67
Fatality Rate
24.7%
Known people on board: 89
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Columbus - Los Angeles
Operator
USAir - US AirwaysFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
