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Atlas / NTSB / LAX84LA112

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX84LA112

1983-12-22 MODESTO, California, United States Airport · MOD Fatal 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE PLT TAXIED & INITIATED A TAKEOFF WITHOUT OBTAINING A CLEARANCE. THE TOWER CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE ACFT TAKE OFF, IMMEDIATELY TURN LEFT, THEN COLLIDE WITH A 10 FT DIRT BANK, LOCATED BETWEEN THE PARALLEL RWYS. AFTER HITTING THE DIRT BANK, THE ACFT SKIDDED ACROSS AN ADJOINING TAXIWAY BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & HOSPITALIZED. PRIOR TO EXPIRING ON 1/2/84 HE TOLD HIS WIFE THAT THE ENG QUIT DURING TAKEOFF & HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TRYING TO RESTART THE ENG. HE REPORTEDLY SAID THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SET THE ACFT DOWN ON A PARALLEL RWY. ALSO, HIS WIFE & A POLICE OFFICER STATED THE PLT TOLD THEM THAT HE 'BLACKED OUT' DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE. DURING AN EXAM OF THE ACFT, THE MAIN FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. NO ENG MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. AUTOPSYREVEALED EVIDENCE OF A DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS WITH A PULMONARY EMBOLUS WITH GENERALIZED CEREBRAL ARTERIOSCEROSIS, CORONARRY ARTERIOSCLEROSIS, & ARTERIAL NEPHROSCLEROSIS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_LAX84LA112.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.