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Atlas / NTSB / LAX87LA191

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX87LA191

1987-04-27 MONTEREY, California, United States Airport · MRY Serious 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

JUST AFTER TAKE-OFF, THE CABIN DOOR OPENED IN FLIGHT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RELAND BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PLT WAS VECTORED TO ANOTHER ARPT, HOWEVER, THE PLT NEVER CLIMBED TO THE ASSIGNED ALT AND WAS NEVER IN RADAR CONTACT. THE PLT THINKING HE WAS ON THE FRONT COURSE TO THE RUNWAY, WAS IN FACT ON THE BACKCOURSE. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE IN HIS POSSESSION AN APPROACH PLATE TO THAT ARPT. THE PLT DESCENDED INTO A MOUNTAIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1987_LAX87LA191.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.