Flight Details
Aeroméxico Flight 498 was a scheduled commercial flight from Mexico City, Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, United States, with several intermediate stops. The aircraft operating the flight was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9. On Sunday, August 31, 1986, the flight was involved in a collision.
Collision
The DC-9 was clipped in the tail section by N4891F, a Piper PA-28 Cherokee owned by the Kramer family. The impact caused the DC-9 to crash into the Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos.
Casualties and Damage
All 64 people on the DC-9, all 3 in the Piper, and 15 individuals on the ground were killed. Additionally, eight people on the ground sustained minor injuries.
Investigation and Blame
The investigation determined that blame was equally attributable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the pilot of the Piper Cherokee. No fault was found with the DC-9 or the actions of its crew.