A runway collision between USAir Flight 1493 and SkyWest Flight 5569 at Los Angeles International Airport results in the deaths of 34 people, and injuries to 30 others.

A Tragic Evening at LAX: The USAir Flight 1493 and SkyWest Flight 5569 Collision

On the evening of February 1, 1991, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a bustling hub of aviation, became the scene of a devastating runway collision. At approximately 6:05 PM Pacific Standard Time, USAir Flight 1493, a Boeing 737-300 carrying 89 occupants, was on its final approach to runway 24L. Simultaneously, SkyWest Airlines Flight 5569, a smaller twin-engined Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft with 12 people on board, had just received clearance from the local air traffic controller to taxi into position and hold on the very same runway. Despite air traffic not being unusually heavy for LAX at that moment, a series of critical operational distractions and procedural lapses by the local controller created a catastrophic scenario, leading to a direct conflict between the landing and departing aircraft.

The Critical Error and Unforeseen Distractions

The sequence of events leading to the collision was rooted in a critical failure of situational awareness within the control tower. The local controller, responsible for managing movements on the runways and immediate airspace, faced several concurrent distractions that diverted attention from the critical task of maintaining clear separation between aircraft. These included a misplaced paper flight progress strip—a physical record detailing an aircraft's flight plan and status, essential for a controller's workflow—and the complication of another aircraft inadvertently switching off its assigned tower frequency. This loss of radio contact required the controller's immediate attention and fragmented focus. In this compromised state, the controller's instruction to SkyWest Flight 5569 to enter the active runway was given while USAir Flight 1493 was just moments away from touchdown, setting the stage for the inevitable impact.

Impact, Fire, and the Struggle for Survival

Upon landing, the larger Boeing 737-300, traveling at approximately 150 knots (170 miles per hour), collided with the much smaller Fairchild Metroliner. The immense force of the impact caused the Metroliner to be crushed beneath the Boeing, which then continued down the runway for approximately 2,400 feet (730 meters) with the wreckage of the smaller plane entangled beneath it. The 737 subsequently veered off the runway, traversing across taxiway 45, and came to a stop in a grassy area between runway 24L and taxiway 45, where it immediately erupted into a ferocious fire. All 12 individuals aboard the SkyWest Metroliner perished instantly in the collision. On the USAir Boeing 737, the situation was dire; of the 89 occupants, 22 died at the scene, with one additional passenger succumbing to injuries a few days later, bringing the total fatalities from the Boeing to 23. Rescue personnel were on the scene within minutes, initiating a courageous evacuation effort. However, the intensity of the post-crash fire severely compromised the evacuation. Three of the 737's six emergency exits, including both front doors, were rendered unusable due to the flames. This forced front-cabin passengers to navigate toward the overwing exits, creating significant bottlenecks. Tragically, only one of the two overwing exits could be operated, further impeding the escape. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation later determined that the majority of those who died aboard the 737 succumbed to asphyxiation from smoke and toxic fumes in the rapidly engulfing fire, rather than from impact forces.

The NTSB's Findings: Systemic Failures and Oversight Gaps

The comprehensive investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the independent U.S. government agency charged with investigating civil aviation accidents, concluded that the probable cause of this tragic accident was primarily systemic. The NTSB report (specifically citing pages vi and 76) pointed to fundamental flaws in the procedures in use at the LAX control tower. These procedures were deemed to provide "inadequate redundancy," meaning there were insufficient checks, balances, or overlapping safety nets to prevent a single point of failure—in this case, the controller's temporary loss of "situational awareness." Situational awareness in air traffic control refers to a controller's accurate perception and understanding of all aircraft positions, movements, and intentions within their assigned airspace, which was clearly compromised in this incident. Furthermore, the NTSB heavily criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its "inadequate oversight," specifically citing the agency's failure to properly supervise the control tower managers at LAX. This lack of effective oversight meant that the procedural deficiencies and training gaps were not identified or rectified before the accident occurred.

Lasting Impact on Aviation Safety and Procedures

The USAir Flight 1493 accident served as a stark and painful lesson in aviation safety. Directly in response to this incident, the NTSB issued a crucial recommendation: that Los Angeles International Airport implement a policy of using separate runways for takeoffs and landings whenever possible. This fundamental change in operational procedure aimed to significantly reduce the potential for runway incursions and collisions by eliminating the intersection of active take-off and landing paths on the same runway. Beyond LAX, this accident contributed to a broader re-evaluation of air traffic control procedures, training protocols, and technological redundancies across the United States. It underscored the critical importance of human factors in aviation safety, the need for robust backup systems, and continuous, rigorous oversight by regulatory bodies like the FAA to prevent similar tragedies.

Frequently Asked Questions About the LAX Runway Collision

When and where did the LAX runway collision occur?
The collision occurred on the evening of February 1, 1991, at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California.
What aircraft were involved in the accident?
The aircraft involved were USAir Flight 1493, a Boeing 737-300, and SkyWest Airlines Flight 5569, a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop.
How many fatalities resulted from the collision?
All 12 occupants aboard the SkyWest Metroliner were killed. Additionally, 23 of the 89 occupants on the USAir Boeing 737 perished, primarily due to asphyxiation in the post-crash fire.
What were the primary causes identified by the NTSB?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the probable causes were inadequate procedures at the LAX control tower leading to a loss of situational awareness by the local controller, and inadequate oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in supervising control tower management.
What significant safety change resulted from this accident?
The accident directly led to an NTSB recommendation for LAX to implement the use of different, separate runways for takeoffs and landings whenever operationally feasible, a practice aimed at minimizing runway incursion risks.