Narrative:
Aeroméxico flight 498 was a scheduled passenger flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles with intermediate stops at Guadalajara, Loreto and Tijuana. The DC-9, named "Hermosillo", departed Tijuana Airport at 11:20 and proceeded toward Los Angeles at FL100. At 11:44 Coast Approach Control cleared the flight to 7000 feet. Just three minutes earlier Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee N4891F departed Torrance Airport, CA for a VFR flight to Big Bear, CA. On board were a pilot and two passengers.
The Piper pilot turned to an easterly heading toward the Paradise VORTAC and entered the Terminal Control Area (TCA) without receiving clearance from ATC as required by FAR Part 91.90. At 11:47 the Aeroméxico pilot contacted LA Approach Control and reported level at 7000 feet. The approach controller cleared flight 498 to depart Seal Beach on a heading of 320 degrees for the ILS runway "two five left final approach course...". At 11:51:04, the approach controller asked the flight to reduce its airspeed to 190 KIAS and cleared it to descend to 6000 feet. At about 11:52:09, flight 498 and the Piper collided over Cerritos at an altitude of about 6560 feet. The Piper struck the left hand side of the DC-9's horizontal and vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer sliced through the Piper's cabin following which it separated from the tailplane. Both planes tumbled down out of control. The wreckage and post impact fires destroyed five houses and damaged seven others. Fifteen persons on the ground were killed. The sky was clear, the reported visibility was 14 miles.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The limitations of the ATC system to provide collision protection, through both ATC procedures and automated redundancy. Factors contributing to the accident were (1) the inadvertent and unauthorized entry of the PA-28 into the Los Angeles Terminal Control Area and (2) the limitations of the "see and avoid" concept to ensure traffic separation under the conditions of the conflict."
Loss of control
accident date: 31-08-1986
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
registration: XA-JED
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 31 August 1986 |
| Time: | 11:52 |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 |
| Operator: | Aeroméxico |
| Registration: | XA-JED |
| MSN: | 47356/470 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 58 / Occupants: 58 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 64 / Occupants: 64 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 15 |
| Collision casualties: | Fatalities: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Cerritos, CA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Tijuana-Rodriguez Airport (TIJ/MMTJ), Mexico |
| Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | AM498 |
Aeroméxico flight 498 was a scheduled passenger flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles with intermediate stops at Guadalajara, Loreto and Tijuana. The DC-9, named "Hermosillo", departed Tijuana Airport at 11:20 and proceeded toward Los Angeles at FL100. At 11:44 Coast Approach Control cleared the flight to 7000 feet. Just three minutes earlier Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee N4891F departed Torrance Airport, CA for a VFR flight to Big Bear, CA. On board were a pilot and two passengers.
The Piper pilot turned to an easterly heading toward the Paradise VORTAC and entered the Terminal Control Area (TCA) without receiving clearance from ATC as required by FAR Part 91.90. At 11:47 the Aeroméxico pilot contacted LA Approach Control and reported level at 7000 feet. The approach controller cleared flight 498 to depart Seal Beach on a heading of 320 degrees for the ILS runway "two five left final approach course...". At 11:51:04, the approach controller asked the flight to reduce its airspeed to 190 KIAS and cleared it to descend to 6000 feet. At about 11:52:09, flight 498 and the Piper collided over Cerritos at an altitude of about 6560 feet. The Piper struck the left hand side of the DC-9's horizontal and vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer sliced through the Piper's cabin following which it separated from the tailplane. Both planes tumbled down out of control. The wreckage and post impact fires destroyed five houses and damaged seven others. Fifteen persons on the ground were killed. The sky was clear, the reported visibility was 14 miles.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The limitations of the ATC system to provide collision protection, through both ATC procedures and automated redundancy. Factors contributing to the accident were (1) the inadvertent and unauthorized entry of the PA-28 into the Los Angeles Terminal Control Area and (2) the limitations of the "see and avoid" concept to ensure traffic separation under the conditions of the conflict."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Mid air collisionLoss of control
Sources:
» NTSB/AAR-87/07Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 3 Safety Recommendations
Show all...
Show all...
Photos
accident date: 31-08-1986
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
registration: XA-JED
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Tijuana-Rodriguez Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 204 km (128 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Tijuana-Rodriguez Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 204 km (128 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
United States of America
Share
DC-9-30
- 662 built
- 37th loss
- 26th fatal accident
- 7th worst accident (at the time)
- 10th worst accident (currently)
United States of America- 20th worst accident (at the time)
- 30th worst accident (currently)
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
