Los Angeles Intl — Safety History & Runway Risks
NTSB accident analysis for KLAX: 19 events analyzed
Los Angeles, CA · 127.8 ft MSL · 4 runways
Based on 19 NTSB events at KLAX (Los Angeles Intl), the most important risks for pilots are:
- Ground Operations Congestion and Vehicle Conflicts. At least six events involved ground vehicles or equipment striking or being struck by aircraft — including a runaway baggage tug striking a 737 (Apr 2010), a ground service vehicle striking a Cessna Citation 680 (Nov 2008), an MD-80 overrunning into a pushback tug (Dec 2008), a garbage dumpster blown into a 747 during takeoff roll (Feb 2020), and a tow bar incident injuring a ground crewmember (May 2011). For GA pilots, the ramp and taxiway environment at KLAX is extremely active and unpredictable; maintain heightened vigilance and never assume clearance from ground equipment.
- Taxiway Wingtip and Clearance Conflicts. Two events document aircraft striking other parked or moving aircraft while taxiing: an Embraer EMB-135 struck a parked EMB-135 at the terminal hub (May 2009), and a United 737 wingtip collided with an Air Canada 767 stabilizer on taxiway C near gate 69B (Sep 2017). KLAX's complex taxiway layout and high density of large-wingspan aircraft create significant wingtip clearance hazards that are especially dangerous for GA pilots unfamiliar with the environment.
- ATC Vectoring Error Leading to Terrain Proximity on Departure. In December 2016, an Eva Air 777 was vectored left instead of right after departure in IMC at night, placing it in unsafe proximity to terrain near Mt. Wilson (elevation ~5,700 ft MSL), roughly 25 miles northeast of KLAX. The airport's proximity to the San Gabriel Mountains means that any deviation from published departure procedures — whether ATC-induced or pilot-induced — can rapidly create CFIT exposure. GA pilots must be thoroughly familiar with obstacle departure procedures and should query any ATC instruction that conflicts with charted terrain avoidance.
Source: NTSB accident records analyzed by Tropiq. Updated 4/14/2026.
Safety History
19 eventsKLAX has recorded 19 NTSB events from 2008–2021, nearly all involving large commercial aircraft with zero fatalities across the dataset. The dominant risk categories are ground operations hazards (vehicle/equipment conflicts, taxiway collisions) and landing/takeoff technique issues (tailstrikes, gear anomalies), rather than weather-driven accidents. Activity has been very low in recent years (one event since 2021), though this likely reflects reduced reporting or operational changes rather than a structural safety improvement.
The 19 recorded events span 2008–2021 with zero fatalities; serious injuries were recorded in five events, mostly involving ground personnel or crew. The dataset is dominated by large commercial aircraft and reflects the operational mix at one of the world's busiest airports.
- •Ground operations incidents (vehicle conflicts, taxiway collisions, pushback problems) are the single largest category, accounting for roughly 7–8 of 19 events
- •No GA single-engine or light twin aircraft appear in the event data except the Cessna Citation 680 (Nov 2008), which was struck by a ground vehicle — suggesting GA-specific flight operations events are rare or not captured in this dataset
- •All weather-coded VMC events (16 of 19) indicate that adverse weather was not a primary causal factor in most incidents; the primary causes were procedural, mechanical, or human factors on the ground
- •Events were spread relatively evenly across years with no single year having more than 3 events (2010, 2011, and 2017 each had 3)
- •Nighttime events represent roughly 4 of 19 total, suggesting elevated but not dominant risk during night operations
Runway Analysis
Key Risks
Common Causes
Seasonal Patterns
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database. Analysis generated 2026-04-14. This data is provided for flight planning awareness and does not replace official safety briefings.
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