Controller Seemed Confused, Harried in Tape of Conversation

The moments leading up to Friday’s fatal crash at Los Angeles International Airport turned out to be an air traffic controller’s worst nightmare.

As the pilot from USAir Flight 1493 repeatedly asked for clearance to land his jetliner, the controller in charge seemed confused and harried. Twice she failed to give the pilot a response.

When the controller finally cleared the USAir jetliner for landing, she apparently forgot that she had previously directed SkyWest 5569 to await clearance to take off on the same runway, said Jim Burnett, an official with the National Transportation Safety Board who is heading the investigation.

Moments later the two planes collided in a fiery ball and slammed against a vacant building.

At a Saturday evening news conference, Burnett provided a dramatic chronology of the minutes preceding the fatal accident.

6:03:37 p.m.: The SkyWest plane told air traffic controllers that it was at Taxiway 45 and ready for departure.

6:03:40 p.m.: The controller told the commuter plane to “hold short of Runway 24-Left.”

6:03:45 p.m.: The USAir flight requested clearance for landing.

“There was no acknowledgement,” Burnett said.

6:04:44 p.m.: The SkyWest pilot was told by the local controller to “taxi into position and hold.”

6:04:48 p.m.: The SkyWest pilot responded to the controller’s instructions telling him to go into position and hold.

6:05:29 p.m.: USAir Flight 1493 asked for clearance to land on 24-Left a second time. Again, there was no acknowledgement.

During this period, the controller asked the pilots of at least two other aircraft whether they were on the runway. Both pilots said no. This may have indicated apparent confusion on the controller’s part as to which plane was holding for takeoff on the runway, Burnett said.

Also, the controller had “difficult communication” with an Aeromexico flight that was coming in for a landing, Burnett said. Her instructions had to be repeated.

6:05:52 p.m.: The USAir pilot asked a third time for clearance to land.

6:05:56 p.m.: Clearance to land was finally given by the controller.

6:06:57 p.m.: An electronic squeal was heard on the tape at the time the collision took place.

Moments later, the controller announced that an accident had been observed.

“She started making inquiries about who needed help,” Burnett said. “She spoke very coolly.”

Propeller slash marks from the commuter airliner left on the pavement reveal that the SkyWest plane was situated squarely for takeoff and was struck directly from behind.

6:07:04 p.m.: An unknown voice was heard on tapes saying, “What the hell?”

At this point, another USAir pilot coming in for a landing about one to two miles away said he saw fire coming out of the belly of the 737.