Los Angeles Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Angeles, California 90012
Monday, April 3, 1989 1:17 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DUE TO THE SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR OF A PASSENGER THAT ELECTED TO DEPLANE BEFORE THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AND WAS LATER QUESTIONED BY AUTHORITIES, THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO RETURN AND LAND. DURING AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, THE FIRST OFFICER OPTED TO EVACUATE THE AIRPLANE VIA THE EMERGNECY ROPE LOCATED IN THE COCKPIT. THE FIRST OFFICER DID NOT FULLY EXTEND THE ROPE FROM THE STOWED POSITON. WHEN HIS WEIGHT WAS PUT ON THE ROPE IT UNRAVELLED RAPIDLY. THE FIRST OFFICER WAS UNABLE TO HANG ON AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND SUSTAINING SERIOUS INJURY. ONE OTHER PASSENGER BROKE HER ANKLE DURING THE EVACUATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FIRST OFFICER DID NOT PROPERLY EVACUATE THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 117
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LOS ANGELES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90012
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LOS ANGELES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 219
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 357
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 341
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38736
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N645US
NTSB Number LAX89LA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 767-201
Aircraft Series Identifier 767-201
Aircraft Serial Number 23897
Certified Max Gross Weight 351000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 221
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 19 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 149
Airframe Hours 7071
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MERIDAN TRUST COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35 NORTH SIXTH ST.
Aircraft Owner City READING
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PIEDMONT AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address #1 PEIDMONT PLAZA
Operator City WINSTON SALEM
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27156
Operator Code PIE
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAX
Departure City LOS ANGELES
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BWI
Destination City BALTIMORE
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --