February 1, 1991
LAX, Los Angeles, California
USAir / Skywest Airlilnes, Flight 1493/5569
Boeing B-737-300 / Swearingen SA-227AC
N388US/N683AV
The Skywest Metroliner was told to taxi into
position for takeoff and hold. The ATC became preoccupied with another aircraft
that departed the tower frequency. A Wings West aircraft reporting "ready for
takeoff", caused some confusion because the controller didn't have a flight
progress strip in front of her. The strip appeared to have been misfiled at the
clearance delivery position. The USAir, which was cleared to land, landed on top
of the Metroliner. After the collision, both planes slid off the runway into an
unoccupied fire station and burst into flames. A total of 34 out of 99 killed on
both planes.
MXA906 Mexicana906
DR1 Los Angeles departure controller No. 1
DR2 Los Angeles departure controller No.2
LC1 Local (tower) controller No.1
LC2 Local (tower) controller No. 2
PAL102 Philippine Airlines 102
AWE429 America West (Cactus)429
AWE37 America West (Cactus) 37
WWM5006 Wings West 5006
SKW246 Skywest246
SDU518 United Express (Sundance 3518)
CDN505 Canadian505
USA1493 USAir 1493
USA23 USAir 23
USA2858 USAir2858
WWM5072 Wings West 5072
WWM5211 Wings west 5212
SKW5569 Skywest5569
SWA725 Southwest725
PD80 Police Department helicopter 80
5:58:06 | MXA906 | Mexicana nine oh six, five miles from runway |
---|---|---|
5:58:10 | LC2 | Mexicana nine zero six roger, traffic short final, cleared to land runway two four left |
5:58:13 | Unknown | (unintelligible) |
5:58:20 | LC2 | Flipr (Standard Instrument Departure, or SID) after short final |
5:58:22 | LC1 | Ah follow the Flipr going in the slot |
5:58:22 | PAL102 | Ah Los Angeles ah Philippine one zero two heavy is on ah finals two four right |
5:58:28 | LC2 | Philippine one zero two heavy, Los Angeles tower, wind two four zero at six, cleared to land runway two four right |
5:58:33 | PAL102 | One zero two |
5:58:34 | LC2 | Cactus thirty-seven, if able turn left first available high speed, contact ground point six five when off the runway, traffic on a mile and half final behind you |
5:58:40 | AWE37 | Thirty-seven, wilco |
5:58:50 | SKW246 | Tower, Skywest two forty-six will take (taxiway) ferry-seven |
5:58:54 | LC2 | Skywest two forty-six hold there |
5:58:57 | SKW246 | Two forty-six |
5:59:02 | CDN505 | Canadian five zero five on a ah turning final for two four left |
5:59:06 | LC2 | Canadian five zero five, Los Angeles tower, wind two five zero at seven, cleared to land runway two four left, caution wake turbulence preceding heavy Boeing seven forty-seven |
5:59:14 | CDN505 | Cleared to land two four left, Canadian five zero five, three green |
5:59:17 | LC2 | Crossover Cactus four fifty-nine w w (controller initials) |
5:59:17 | DR1 | Santa Barbara c r (controller initials) |
5:59:32 | LC2 | Cactus four twenty-nine taxi into position and hold runway two four left |
5:59:35 | AWE429 | To hold two four left, Cactus four twenty-nine |
5:59:52 | LC2 | Mexicana nine zero six turn left first available high speed, contact ground point six five when off the runway, good night |
6:00:01 | LC2 | Wings West five thousand six turn left at your reverse high speed or the forward high speed, hold short of runway two four left, remain this frequency |
6:00:06 | WWM5006 | Okay |
6:00:07 | SDU518 | Tower, Sundance five eighteen turned to final for two four right |
6:00:12 | LC2 | Sundance five eighteen, Los Angeles tower, wind two five zero at two, cleared to land runway two four right, caution wake turbulence preceding heavy Boeing seven forty-seven |
6:00:19 | SDU518 | Ah cleared to land two four right, understand he is two four left, Sundance five eighteen |
6:00:23 | LC2 | He's two four right also |
6:00:26 | SDU518 | Okay, we're slowin |
6:00:28 | LC2 | Cactus four twenty-nine fly heading two five zero, maintain two thousand, wind two five zero at six, runway two four left cleared for takeoff |
6:00:34 | AWE429 | Cactus four twenty-nine cleared for takeoff two four left, two thousand feet, heading two five zero |
6:00:39 | LC2 | Sundance five eighteen you got two five right in sight? |
6:00:42 | SDU518 | We got two five right in sight and the other guy for two four left's in sight |
6:00:44 | LC2 | Sundance five eighteen understand you have the (unintelligible) Canadian seven thirty-seven just ah be eleven o'clock and a half a mile |
6:00:52 | SDU518 | We have him in sight, we can step over him for two five right |
6:00:56 | LC2 | Sundance five eighteen change to runway two five right, wind two five zero at six, cleared to land runway two five right, contact tower one two zero point niner five |
6:01:03 | SDU518 | Thank you, steppin' over to two five right over to the other tower, Sundance five eighteen, thanks for the help |
6:01:08 | LC2 | Alaska twenty |
6:01:08 | LC1 | Z. Z. (controller initials) |
6:01:31 | LC2 | Cactus four twenty-nine contact Los Angeles departure, good night |
6:01:34 | AWE429 | Cactus four twenty-nine, good night |
6:01:44 | LC2 | Rundown USAir twenty-three (unintelligible) crossover |
6:01:46 | DR1 | Roger |
6:01:50 | Unknown | Lights on (taxiway?) uniform |
6:01:53 | LC2 | Calling ground say a eh tower, say again |
6:01:56 | Unknown | Landing lights on uniform? |
6:02:02 | LC2 | Affirmative |
6:02:04 | LC2 | Philippine one zero two heavy turn left when able, hold short of runway two four left, remain this frequency |
6:02:12 | PAL102 | Ah (unintelligible) |
6:02:14 | LC2 | Thank you |
6:02:18 | Unknown | (unintelligible) |
6:02:21 | LC1 | I gotta heavy Ventura (SID) |
6:02:22 | LC2 | Ah follow the German (SID) (unintelligible) |
6:02:25 | LC1 | Z. Z. (unintelligible) |
6:02:26 | LC1 | Z. Z. |
6:02:28 | LC2 | USAir twenty-three taxi into position and hold runway two four left |
6:02:30 | USA23 | Position and hold ah two four left, USAir twenty-three |
6:02:34 | Unknown | One three point six five one niner tango |
6:02:39 | DR2 | Say again local two |
6:02:39 | LC2 | Request ah two seventy Skywest |
6:02:42 | DR2 | On who Skywest who |
6:02:43 | LC2 | Two forty-six |
6:02:44 | DR2 | Approved |
6:02:48 | LC2 | Canadian . . . |
6:02:49 | LC1 | Call ya back on the heavy Ventura |
6:02:50 | LC2 | Canadian five zero five turn left when able, contact ground point six five when off the runway, good night |
6:03:00 | PAL102 | One zero two is ah only to hold ma'am? |
6:03:02 | LC2 | One zero two heavy affirmative, hold short of runway two four left |
6:03:06 | PAL102 | Hold short |
6:03:09 | WWM5006 | Can ah Wings fifty oh six cross two four left? |
6:03:12 | LC2 | Fifty oh six hold short |
6:03:13 | WWM5006 | Hold short |
6:03:18 | LC2 | USAir twenty-three fly heading two five zero, maintain two thousand, wind two five zero at six, runway two four left cleared for takeoff |
6:03:24 | USA23 | Okay two thousand, two fifty, cleared to go, USAir twenty-three |
6:03:30 | LC2 | Skywest two forty-six you still holding short of (taxiway) forty-seven? |
6:03:33 | SKW246 | Two forty-six, affirmative |
6:03:35 | LC2 | You're next |
6:03:36 | SKW246 | Roger |
6:03:38 | SKW569 | Skywest ah five sixty-nine at (taxiway) forty-five, we'd Like to go from here if we can |
6:03:40 | LC2 | Skywest five sixty-nine taxi up to and hold short of two four Left |
6:03:44 | SKW569 | okay hold short |
6:03:53 | SWA725 | Southwest ah seven twenty-five's ready in sequence |
6:03:56 | LC2 | Skywest two forty-six taxi across runway two four left, runway two four right shoreline turn right heading two seven zero, maintain two thousand, wind two four zero at six, cleared for takeoff |
6:04:05 | SKW246 | 'Ray two seventy to two thousand, two forty six cleared for takeoff |
6:04:09 | LC2 | Runway two four right |
6:04:10 | SKW246 | Affirmative |
6:04:11 | LC2 | Wings five thousand six taxi across runway two four left, contact ground point six five when off the runway, good night |
6:04:17 | PAL102 | Was that for Philippine one zero two ma'am? |
6:04:19 | LC2 | No sir, hold short. Wings five thousand and six taxi across runway two four left, contact ground point six five when off the runway. |
6:04:30 | LC2 | USAir twenty-three contact Los Angeles departure, good night |
6:04:32 | USA23 | Good night |
6:04:33 | USA1493 | USAir fourteen ninety-three inside of Roman (outer marker beacon) |
6:04:38 | LC2 | Wings five thousand and six, ground eh tower |
6:04:44 | LC2 | Skywest five sixty-nine taxi into position and hold runway two four left, traffic will cross downfield |
6:04:49 | SKW569 | 'Key two four left position and hold, Skywest five sixty-nine |
6:04:52 | LC2 | Wings West five thousand and six, tower |
6:04:59 | SWA725 | Tower, Southwest seven twenty-five's ready in sequence |
6:05:02 | LC2 | Southwest seven twenty-five roger, taxi up to and hold short of two four left |
6:05:05 | SWA725 | Up to hold short, Southwest seven twenty-five |
6:05:06 | LC2 | You'll follow the Metroliner |
6:05:09 | WWM5006 | (unintelligible) on frequency again, changed radios, sorry 'bout that |
6:05:12 | LC2 | Five thousand six you're back with me? |
6:05:14 | WWM5006 | Yeah and we didn't mean to switch radios, we're now on |
6:05:16 | LC2 | Okay, I thought I lost you, taxi (unintelligible) runway two four, contact ground point six five when off the runway, traffic will hold in position |
6:05:21 | WWM5006 | Great and we thought we lost you, we apologize |
6:05:23 | LC2 | No problem. Sundance five eighteen taxi across runway two four left, contact ground point six five when off the runway, good night |
6:05:29 | USA1493 | USAir fourteen ninety-three for the left side, two four Left |
6:05:33 | LC2 | Skywest two forty-six heading two seven zero, contact Los Angeles departure, good night |
6:05:38 | SKW246 | Two forty-six, good night |
6:05:39 | LC2 | Southwest seven twenty-five you're holding short of two four left, correct? |
6:05:44 | LC2 | Southwest seven twenty-five, tower |
6:05:47 | SWA725 | Ah seven twenty-five, go ahead |
6:05:48 | LC2 | Yes sir you're holding short, is that correct? |
6:05:50 | SWA725 | Yes ma'am, we're holding short |
6:05:51 | LC2 | Thank you. USAir fourteen ninety-three cleared to land runway two four left |
6:05:55 | USA1493 | Cleared to land two four left, fourteen ninetythree |
6:05:58 | USA2858 | Twenty-eight fifty-eight's for the right, five miles |
6:05:59 | LC2 | USAir twenty-eight fifty-eight, wind two three zero at eight, cleared to land runway two four right |
6:06:04 | USA2858 | Cleared to land |
6:06:08 | WWM5072 | Tower, Wings West fifty seventy-two is ready for takeoff |
6:06:13 | LC2 | Wings fifty seventy-two? |
6:06:15 | WWM5072 | Affirmative |
6:06:17 | LC2 | Wings fifty seventy-two, you at (taxiway) forty-seven or full length? |
6:06:20 | WWM5072 | We're full length |
6:06:21 | LC2 | Okay |
6:06:26 | LC2 | Hold short |
6:06:28 | WWM5072 | Roger holding short |
6:06:30 | LC2 | Wings fifty seventy-two say your squawk |
6:06:33 | WWM5072 | Forty-six fifty-three |
6:06:46 | WWM5212 | Los Angeles tower, Wings West fifty-two twelve with you on the visual two four right |
6:06:51 | LC1 | Of runway two five right |
6:06:51 | LC2 | Flipr |
6:06:54 | Unknown | Cross the left, hold short of the right, Alpha Air one zero |
6:06:55 | LC1 | Flipr approved inside |
6:06:55 | LC2 | Southwest seven twenty-five taxi into position and hold runway two four left |
6:06:58 | SWA725 | Southwest seven twenty-five, position and hold two four left |
6:07:00 | (Crash occurs between USAir 1493 and Skywest 569 on runway 24 Left at taxiway 45, 2,400 ft. beyond the threshold) | |
6:07:04 | Unknown | What the hell |
6:07:23 | Unknown | Helicopters |
6:07:23 | LC2 | Southwest seven twenty-five just remain off the runway at this time |
6:07:25 | Unknown | Helicopters |
6:07:28 | SWA725 | Southwest seven twenty-five, remain off the runway |
6:07:30 | PD80 | Helicopters, p d eighty, you need any help over there? |
6:07:32 | LC2 | Right now we don't know |
6:07:33 | PD80 | Okay |
6:07:35 | WWM5212 | Wing fifty-two twelve ah we're on a visual two four right |
6:07:36 | Unknown | We'd like to work just along Ballona Creek here, we'll stay (unintelligible) |
6:07:39 | LC2 | Wings fifty-two twelve, wind two four zero at eight, cleared to land runway two four right, ah use caution we just had an aircraft go off the runway in flame |
6:07:46 | WWM5212 | Okay ah yeah we see that and ah we're cleared to land on two four right |
6:08:02 | PD80 | Helicopters, police eighty |
6:08:09 | LC2 | And USAir twenty-eight fifty-eight turn left when able hold short of runway two four left till we find out what happened |
6:08:16 | USA2858 | Roger I understand, do you want us to go down to the far end? |
6:08:19 | LC2 | Twenty-eight fifty-eight ah turn left at (taxiway) seventy-five if you can, no delay off the runway, traffic on a mile final |
6:08:24 | USA2858 | 'kay will take the high speed and hold |
6:08:28 | Unknown | You can take the Wings West to the north if you want |
6:08:31 | LC2 | Okay, we just had a, did she tell you what happened on final? |
6:08:34 | Unknown | No |
6:08:35 | LC2 | Okay, we just had a seven thirty-seven land and blow up, he went up in flame, he's off the runway right now, two four left is closed |
6:08:41 | Unknown | Is the right still open? |
6:08:42 | LC2 | Yeah the right's still open |
6:08:44 | Unknown | Okay |