AM 498
31 Aug 1986 · Mid-Air & Ground CollisionsAEROMÉXICO FLIGHT 498
McDonnell Douglas DC-9 + Piper Archer · Aeroméxico + private · Image: Wikimedia Commons
Why it happened
Private plane strayed into LAX airspace
Airspace intrusion
Pre-mandate TCAS
Mode C transponder
Aircraft
McDonnell Douglas DC-9 + Piper Archer
Aeroméxico + private
Route
Mexico City (MEX), Mexico
→ Los Angeles (LAX), USA
People
64 on board
82 fatalities +15 on ground
Date
31 Aug 1986
Flight crew
Captain: Arturo Valdes Prom
Category
Mid-Air & Ground Collisions
Two aircraft, one piece of sky.
THE STORY
A private pilot strayed into LAX airspace without clearance and collided with the DC-9 over Cerritos. The disaster led directly to today's TCAS mandate.