Runway Disasters
Since 1988 there have been more than 1,300 runway aircraft collisions, resulting in more than 40 deaths. Despite repeated warnings from various agencies, it took the Federal Aviation Administration years before an intensive program was put in place to help prevent runway collisions.
* Dec. 20, 1972: DC-9 collides with a Convair CV-880 in Chicago; 10 dead.
* May 1973: National Transportation Safety Board makes recommendations to FAA designed to cut runway collisions.
* March 27, 1977: Two Boeing 747s collide in the Canary Islands; 583 dead.
* 1978: Aviation researchers report “incursions by aircraft on the runways . . . represent a significant safety problem.”
* Dec. 23, 1983: DC-10 cargo plane collides with Piper PA-31 at Anchorage International Airport; 3 injured.
* March 31, 1985: Two Northwest Airlines DC-10s involved in a runway incident at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport; NTSB describes it as “potentially disastrous.”
* July 1985: NTSB initiates a special investigation on the dangers of runway collisions.
* September 1985: National Aeronautics and Space Administration says there have been 1,210 near-collisions on runways from May, 1978, to September, 1983.
* March 7, 1986: Internal FAA memorandum acknowledges runway problem requires further action.
* May 6, 1986: NTSB releases special investigation results reiterating recommendations designed to curb runway accidents.
* 1987: FAA administrator declares need to develop automated runway collision alert system.
* Aug. 11, 1989: Internal FAA memorandum says: “The Air Traffic Operations Service has stated an immediate need for a runway incursion alert system. . . . We agree that the potential for a runway accident is a national concern.”
* Jan. 18, 1990: Eastern Airlines 727 and Epps Air Service King Air A100 collide in Atlanta; 1 dead.
* March 1990: FAA forms runway collision action teams to conduct airport surveys. identify potential problem areas.
* Dec. 3, 1990: Two Northwest Airlines planes collide in Detroit; 12 dead.
* Jan. 24, 1991: FAA publishes a “Runway Incursion Plan,” proposing what it plans to do about problem.
* Feb. 1, 1991: USAir Flight 1493 hits Skywest Flight 5569 in Los Angeles; 34 dead.
* Feb. 14, 1991: FAA administrator issues a directive to air-traffic controllers nationwide dealing with ways to prevent runway collisions.
* July 3, 1991: FAA finalizes plan to standardize airport signs as part of ambitious program to reduce runway collisions.
* Oct. 22, 1991: NTSB adopts final report on causes of Los Angeles crash, says FAA was partially to blame for faulty air-traffic management and equipment.
Sources: General Accounting Office, National Transportation Safety Board and congressional testimony
Researched by JEFF BRAZIL and SHELBY GRAD / Los Angeles Times
