teddyballgame

Other contributing factors to that accident were:

The commuter aircraft was holding in position at an intersection. The local controller had confused the accident aircraft's flight number with one that was holding short full-length, and she had intended to put the latter aircraft into position at the end of the runway.

That area of RWY 24L where the accident aircraft was in position was not visible from the old LAX tower, and/or was obscured by ramp lighting.

As a result of this tragic accident, the newer, taller LAX tower was built from which all runways are visible in their entirety, and controllers are no longer allowed to issue clearances to line up and wait at runway intersections at night.

The F/O (who was PF) said afterward that he did not see the commuter aircraft on the runway until he lowered the nose of the 737 and his landing lights illuminated it.

And I don't remember if this was an official contributing factor in the eyes of the NTSB, but the air traffic controller whose error caused the accident was a Reagan scab, who had been a controller in the military, but had been medically discharged from the service for psychological problems.

In their zeal to bust the controllers' union (and, as it turned out, just about every other aviation union in the ensuing decades), the administration put a lot of pressure on the FAA to hurry up and hire replacement controllers; so a lot of applicants who otherwise may not have been hired slipped through the cracks and ended up in ATC facilities.

prwest

A 172 I fly has the strobes tied into the beacon switch. It even has a placard that says do not operate the strobes in the vicinity of other aircraft...lol

I've always wondered if someone would taxi around with the beacon off because of the strobes.

mooney

I flew a mooney with NO beacon, only strobes talk about a dilemma!

For all you others that say "it is placarded not to use in the vicinity of other aircraft!!!" I'm pretty sure that the manufacturer assumes pilots know that they are by definition ANTI-COLLISION lights for use on takeoff/airborne/landing and not put the disclaimer on there for ramp/taxi operations. major COLLISIONS happen on runways, not ramps/taxiways. Maybe if I'm about to have a midair I should turn off my strobes so I don't blind the other pilot and then I won't be found in violation of an aircraft placard when I'm dead?

Stryker

Doesn't matter if it's active or inactive. How many times have you heard of pilots landing on wrong runways (or sometimes even taxiways). The FAA doesn't distinguish between the two. A runways should always be treated as active regardless of whether it's being used or not. Do you not look both ways before crossing an inactive runway? If not I'd say you need to revisit how complacent you have become.

mooney

uh oh now you started a firestorm with the strobe nazis!

Stryker

Yes it's all in fun and games til the Nazis return...

bcrosier

If you're on a runway and don't have your strobes on (assuming your aircraft is wired to permit you to do so) - you're an idiot. Plain and simple.

If your aircraft doesn't permit it, the manufacturer is an idiot.

I don't know what the heck is wrong with some puddle pirates that think not having them on is a good idea. So to speak, the jury ruled and the ship sailed on this one years ago.

Senior Skipper

Actually, they do distinguish between active and inactive runways, but otherwise I agree with everything that you said.

I treat every runway like an active runway.

IBPilot

what's a puddle pirate?

prwest

-one who jumps in and out of puddles shouting 'i'll find ye treasure matey!'

or

-a man who 'gets around' (male prostitute), and during his orgasm screams 'Arrrgghhh, thereeeee she blows!'; The puddles symbolize a woman's vagina, and the pirate represents the horny man.