Boeing 747 412 N703CK accident near Los Angeles, California

Probable cause

An unavoidable collision with a garbage dumpster that had blown into the path of the airplane during the takeoff roll.

NTSB analysis

On February 3, 2020, about 0306 Pacific standard time, Kalitta Air flight 368, a Boeing 747-400, N703CK, collided with a garbage bin during the takeoff roll on runway 25R at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), Los Angeles, California. There were no injuries to the seven passengers and flight crew onboard and the airplane was substantially damaged. The domestic cargo flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental from KLAX to Honolulu International Airport (PHNL), Honolulu, Hawaii.

The captain stated that he was the pilot flying and, during the takeoff roll on runway 25R, between 80 and 110 knots (V1 was 131 knots), he noticed a large object "moving right to left at a good speed". A fraction of a second later it passed under the nose and impacted the airplane. He said that the impact was loud, and the airplane "settled", followed by severe vibration in the airplane. He immediately rejected the takeoff and stopped on the runway.

At the time of the takeoff, winds were reported to be 15 knots, gusting to 28 knots, from 340 degrees.

Authorities at the Los Angeles World Airports determined that the object blown onto the runway was a garbage dumpster.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA20CA077 for the full record.